- August 5, 2024
Bangladesh president orders release of jailed ex-PM Khaleda Zia as Sheikh Hasina flees country – Times of India
Bangladeshi president Mohammed Shahabuddin has ordered the release of jailed former Prime Minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia on Monday. This decision came hours after her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina was ousted, and the military took control of the government after violent unrest.
The release of Zia, who belongs to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was decided during a meeting led by Shahabuddin.The president’s press team stated, “decided unanimously to free Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately.”
The meeting was attended by army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the heads of the navy and air force, and top leaders of several opposition parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. The meeting also decided to release all individuals arrested during recent student protests.
“The meeting has also decided to free all the people who have been arrested during the student protests,” the statement continued.
Earlier in the day, General Waker announced on state television that Hasina had resigned and that the military would establish an interim government soon.
“The meeting decided to form an interim government immediately,” the statement added.
Hasina had sought to quell nationwide protests against her government since early July. She fled the country after violent unrest on Sunday resulted in nearly 100 deaths.
Zia, 78, is in poor health and has been confined to a hospital after she was sentenced to 17 years in prison for graft in 2018.
The release of Zia, who belongs to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was decided during a meeting led by Shahabuddin.The president’s press team stated, “decided unanimously to free Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately.”
The meeting was attended by army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the heads of the navy and air force, and top leaders of several opposition parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. The meeting also decided to release all individuals arrested during recent student protests.
“The meeting has also decided to free all the people who have been arrested during the student protests,” the statement continued.
Earlier in the day, General Waker announced on state television that Hasina had resigned and that the military would establish an interim government soon.
“The meeting decided to form an interim government immediately,” the statement added.
Hasina had sought to quell nationwide protests against her government since early July. She fled the country after violent unrest on Sunday resulted in nearly 100 deaths.
Zia, 78, is in poor health and has been confined to a hospital after she was sentenced to 17 years in prison for graft in 2018.
