Bangladesh’s ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia was released from prison on Wednesday on humanitarian grounds, her party said.

Khaleda, 74, was jailed in 2018 following her conviction for graft. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had suspended her prison term for six months, her party general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.

Her health has been deteriorating for months and she was moved to a hospital in April last year. 
 
Law and Justice Minister Anisul Huq said the move came after a brother and sister of Zia -- who has been in prison for two years -- appealed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to let her arch-rival fly to London for treatment. 
 
Hasina and Zia are bitter rivals whose families have dominated Bangladesh's politics since independence in 1971.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/historical-step-bangladesh-maldives-laud-india-for-observing-janata-curfew-over-coronavirus-287948">'Historical step': Bangladesh, Maldives laud India for observing 'Janata curfew' over coronavirus</a> 
 
Huq said, however, the 74-year-old Zia would not be allowed to go to another country. 
 
"On the basis of the application and having been directed by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Begum Khaleda Zia's conviction has been suspended," Huq told AFP. 
 
She is freed "on condition that she remains in her Dhaka residence to receive treatment and does not go abroad". 
 
There was no immediate comment from Zia's family or her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). 
 
Sentenced to 10 years in jail on graft charges, Zia also faces nearly three dozen other outstanding cases. The BNP says the charges are politically motivated to keep her out of politics. 
 
Her lawyers have had repeated bail applications rejected. They have argued that she could die in prison without proper treatment.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/south-asian-governments-impose-coronavirus-curfews-border-controls-287798" hreflang="en">South Asian governments impose coronavirus curfews, border controls</a> 
 
A recent leaked medical report on Zia's health said her rheumatoid arthritis was becoming increasingly serious. She has already had two knee replacement operations. 
 
"As a result of combined active disease and accompanied damage she is, at present, at a crippled state and largely dependent on assistance for her day-to-day activities," the report said. 
 
Hasina took over as prime minister from Zia in 2009 and has ruled since. 
 
The United States, which has warm relations with Bangladesh, said it welcomed the decision to free Zia and pointed to concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus. 
 
The global pandemic "needs leadership that is compassionate and prioritizes national unity," Alice Wells, the top US diplomat for South Asia, wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

Bangladesh’s ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia was released from prison on Wednesday on humanitarian grounds, her party said. Khaleda, 74, was jailed in 2018 following her conviction for graft.

Bangladesh’s ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia was released from prison on Wednesday on humanitarian grounds, her party said. Khaleda, 74, was jailed in 2018 following her conviction for graft. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had suspended her prison term for six months, her party general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said. Her health has been deteriorating for months and she was moved to a hospital in April last year. Law and Justice Minister Anisul Huq said the move came after a brother and sister of Zia -- who has been in prison for two years -- appealed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to let her arch-rival fly to London for treatment. Hasina and Zia are bitter rivals whose families have dominated Bangladesh's politics since independence in 1971. Also read: 'Historical step': Bangladesh, Maldives laud India for observing 'Janata curfew' over coronavirus Huq said, however, the 74-year-old Zia would not be allowed to go to another country. "On the basis of the application and having been directed by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Begum Khaleda Zia's conviction has been suspended," Huq told AFP. She is freed "on condition that she remains in her Dhaka residence to receive treatment and does not go abroad". There was no immediate comment from Zia's family or her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Sentenced to 10 years in jail on graft charges, Zia also faces nearly three dozen other outstanding cases. The BNP says the charges are politically motivated to keep her out of politics. Her lawyers have had repeated bail applications rejected. They have argued that she could die in prison without proper treatment. Also read: South Asian governments impose coronavirus curfews, border controls A recent leaked medical report on Zia's health said her rheumatoid arthritis was becoming increasingly serious. She has already had two knee replacement operations. "As a result of combined active disease and accompanied damage she is, at present, at a crippled state and largely dependent on assistance for her day-to-day activities," the report said. Hasina took over as prime minister from Zia in 2009 and has ruled since. The United States, which has warm relations with Bangladesh, said it welcomed the decision to free Zia and pointed to concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus. The global pandemic "needs leadership that is compassionate and prioritizes national unity," Alice Wells, the top US diplomat for South Asia, wrote on Twitter.

Bangladesh ex-PM Khaleda freed on humanitarian grounds, her party says

Bangladesh on Wednesday tightened security amid mounting tensions over an impending corruption trial verdict against ex-prime minister and main opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia on Thursday that may disqualify her from contesting the next general election.

Elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and armed police were called out to guard Dhaka streets while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s ruling Awami League said their activists would be ready to &quot;assist police&quot; if the BNP tried to foment any unrest over the verdict.

According to media reports, police in the past several days arrested over 1,000 BNP activists, including some senior leaders, suspecting they could spearhead a violent campaign if Zia is convicted.

A Dhaka court is set to deliver the judgment in the trial in which Zia, 72, and five others, including her expatriate elder son Tarique Rahman, stand accused of embezzling 21 million takas ($252,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust.

The prosecution said the charity, named after Zia&#39;s slain husband - military dictator-turned-president Ziaur Rahman - existed only on paper.

Legal experts said Zia, who served as premier for three terms, could face life imprisonment if found guilty of the charges while a conviction would simultaneously disqualify her from contesting the next general election slated for December.

Her party had boycotted the 2014 polls over its demands for an election-time non-party government and became the opposition outside parliament. But it is expected to contest the upcoming polls.

Political analysts said the BNP might see a political split as several senior leaders could disassociate themselves from Zia as her son Rahman, the senior vice president of the party, is seen as wielding authority from London while ignoring party veterans.

Rahman is believed to have sought asylum in Britain to evade justice as he is also being tried on several charges, including a 2004 grenade attack on a rally of the then opposition Awami League that killed 23 people and in which Hasina narrowly escaped.

Zia, in a meeting of the party&#39;s highest policy-making national executive committee last week, warned of severe consequences against any attempt of &quot;betrayal&quot; saying she would remain with the party whatever the court verdict.

The main opposition party, which claims the charges are part of a plot to keep its leader out of the general election, has threatened to take to the streets if she is convicted.

The ruling Awami League, however, has denied it saying if Zia is not guilty, then it will be proven in court.

It has also called on its supporters to be vigilant if the BNP launches protests.

Earlier, Zia had urged her party supporters to hold &quot;peaceful programmes&quot;.

&quot;Please don&#39;t do something foolish that can put the party in danger. Remain united,&quot; she said last week.&nbsp;

Bangladesh on Wednesday tightened security amid mounting tensions over an impending corruption trial verdict against ex-prime minister and main opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia on Thursday that may disqualify her from contesting the next general election

Bangladesh on Wednesday tightened security amid mounting tensions over an impending corruption trial verdict against ex-prime minister and main opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia on Thursday that may disqualify her from contesting the next general election. Elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and armed police were called out to guard Dhaka streets while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League said their activists would be ready to "assist police" if the BNP tried to foment any unrest over the verdict. According to media reports, police in the past several days arrested over 1,000 BNP activists, including some senior leaders, suspecting they could spearhead a violent campaign if Zia is convicted. A Dhaka court is set to deliver the judgment in the trial in which Zia, 72, and five others, including her expatriate elder son Tarique Rahman, stand accused of embezzling 21 million takas ($252,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust. The prosecution said the charity, named after Zia's slain husband - military dictator-turned-president Ziaur Rahman - existed only on paper. Legal experts said Zia, who served as premier for three terms, could face life imprisonment if found guilty of the charges while a conviction would simultaneously disqualify her from contesting the next general election slated for December. Her party had boycotted the 2014 polls over its demands for an election-time non-party government and became the opposition outside parliament. But it is expected to contest the upcoming polls. Political analysts said the BNP might see a political split as several senior leaders could disassociate themselves from Zia as her son Rahman, the senior vice president of the party, is seen as wielding authority from London while ignoring party veterans. Rahman is believed to have sought asylum in Britain to evade justice as he is also being tried on several charges, including a 2004 grenade attack on a rally of the then opposition Awami League that killed 23 people and in which Hasina narrowly escaped. Zia, in a meeting of the party's highest policy-making national executive committee last week, warned of severe consequences against any attempt of "betrayal" saying she would remain with the party whatever the court verdict. The main opposition party, which claims the charges are part of a plot to keep its leader out of the general election, has threatened to take to the streets if she is convicted. The ruling Awami League, however, has denied it saying if Zia is not guilty, then it will be proven in court. It has also called on its supporters to be vigilant if the BNP launches protests. Earlier, Zia had urged her party supporters to hold "peaceful programmes". "Please don't do something foolish that can put the party in danger. Remain united," she said last week.

Tension ahead of graft case verdict against ex-Bangladesh PM Zia

Zia, News on Zia, stories on Zia, articles on Zia, Zia stories at Wion, Zia news, Zia latest news

zia

Bangladesh ex-PM Khaleda freed on humanitarian grounds, her party says

Tension ahead of graft case verdict against ex-Bangladesh PM Zia