International Desk, 5th August:- In a significant political development, President Mohammed Shahabuddin has ordered the immediate release of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, currently serving a prison sentence, following a tumultuous period marked by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and departure from the country.
The decision to free the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson was announced in a press statement after a high-level meeting with opposition party members. President Shahabuddin stated that the decision was reached unanimously.
Khaleda Zia, aged 78, has been imprisoned since 2018 after being sentenced to 17 years in a corruption case. She has been unwell and is currently confined to a hospital. Her release comes at a critical juncture, as the country grapples with the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, who ended her 15-year tenure amid escalating violence and protests.
The political landscape in Bangladesh has long been polarized between Zia’s BNP and Hasina’s Awami League. Hasina, who first became prime minister in 1996, and Zia, alternately led the government for years, with their rivalry deeply influencing the nation’s politics. The Awami League has promoted a moderate and secular ideology, often accusing the BNP of supporting hard-line extremists.
The meeting where the decision to release Zia was made included the presence of Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the heads of the navy and airforce, and senior leaders from various opposition parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami party.
The press statement also mentioned the decision to release all individuals arrested during recent student protests, further indicating a shift in the political climate of Bangladesh.
This move is expected to have significant implications for the country’s political dynamics, especially in light of the recent power vacuum created by Hasina’s abrupt resignation and departure.