Staff Correspondent: Dhaka, Sept-19,

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said the government extended BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's jail suspension for another six months considering her plea in this regard.

"Considering an application submitted by family members of Begum Khaleda Zia, the government extended her imprisonment suspension for another six months, upholding the previous conditions," he told reporters at his ministry conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat.

Kamal, also a veteran freedom fighter, said the government extended Khaleda Zia's conditional jail suspension for the fourth time.  The Home Ministry issued a gazette notification to this end, saying the order will come into effect from September 25 for the next six months.

The decision was taken as per section 401 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. According to the notification, Khaleda Zia will receive treatment staying at her own residence in Dhaka and will not be allowed to travel abroad during the jail suspension period.

Earlier on March 25, 2021, the government had extended the imprisonment suspension of Khaleda Zia for six months. On September 25, 2020, the 76-year-old BNP chief was released from jail for six months upon an executive order considering her age and humanitarian ground, following an application by her family.

On October 29, 2018, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 sentenced BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and three others to seven-year imprisonment each in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

The court also fined them Taka 10 lakh each, in default, they have to suffer six months more in jail.

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