Law minister rules out Khaleda’s release on parole

Law Minister Anisul Huq has ruled out the demand for the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail on parole on humanitarian ground for her better treatment.

“If Khaleda Zia is released from jail on parole, it will be a serious breach of the Jail Code,” the law minister told The Daily Star today.

“The fact is that Khaleda Zia is now serving jail upon conviction and such kinds of prisoners are guided by the Jail Code. Parole is a system to meet the urgencies which are covered by the Jail Code. Therefore, the question for her (Khaleda) release on parole does not arise,” he said.

Khaleda Zia's lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain at a press conference yesterday urged the government to release her from jail on parole on humanitarian ground for her better treatment.

“Since Khaleda Zia has been detained in prison for more than four months, her diseases have turned severe and an apprehension has been created over her life. It is not possible to release her quickly from jail through legal process, as both the Appellate and High Court Divisions and the lower courts are now closed due to Eid-ul-Fitr holidays,” Kahndker Mahbub added.