Zia’s release came hours after her rival Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s President Mohammad Shahabuddin has ordered the release of jailed former prime minister and main opposition leader Khaleda Zia, hours after her rival Sheikh Hasina fled the country.
On Monday, the president’s press team said that the meeting chaired by Shahabuddin “has unanimously decided to immediately release Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.”
Zia, 78, and a two-time prime minister of Bangladesh is in poor health and is in hospital after being sentenced to 17 years in prison for corruption in 2018.
He has a long-standing feud with Hasina and was accused of abusing his power by embezzling $250,000 in donations to an orphanage trust.
The BNP has said the cases are fabricated and aimed at keeping Zia out of politics, allegations Hasina’s government has denied.
“The meeting also decided to release all those arrested during the student protest,” the president’s statement added.
“I promise you all that we will bring justice to all the killings and injustices. We request you have faith in the country’s army. The general said I take full responsibility and assure you not to despair.