Bangladesh has officially lifted the house arrest of Begum Khaleda Zia, the leader of the main opposition party, as confirmed by the president’s office.
Zia, aged 78, a former two-time prime minister, was convicted of corruption in 2018 and handed a 17-year prison sentence.
As the head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Zia was transferred to a hospital a year later due to declining health, maintaining her innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
A long-standing rival of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Zia’s release coincided with Hasina’s resignation and departure from the country.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced Zia’s freedom from house arrest and the dissolution of parliament following demands from the student-led national movement.
Having led the BNP since 1981 after her husband’s assassination, Zia became the first female prime minister of Bangladesh a decade later.
Despite her terms in office from 1991 to 1996 and 2001 to 2006, Zia’s tenure was marred by allegations of corruption.
In a bid to allow Zia to re-enter politics, her two sons, also facing corruption charges, relocated to the United Kingdom.
The release announcement came amidst discussions with student leaders by army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman regarding the formation of an interim government set to oversee upcoming elections.
Simultaneously, the country’s primary police association issued an apology for actions against ”innocent students” during recent protests and demanded the release of detained officers.
In a statement, the Bangladesh police association declared a strike until the security of all its members is guaranteed, highlighting the pressures faced by officers during the unrest.
The families of political prisoners in Bangladesh, incarcerated under Hasina’s administration, anxiously awaited updates on their loved ones.
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