Hasina Sheikh's chief rival Khaleda Zia released after 776 days in jail

Ex-Bangladeshi Prime Minister and Hasina Sheikh’s chief rival, Khaleda Zia has been released from house arrest following the order of Bangladeshi President Mohammad Shahbuddin. Khaleda served as a major oppositional leader against the ruling party of absconder Sheikh Hasina.

The President’s press team released a statement that Mr. Shabauddin has decided unanimously to release Khaleda Zia. She is the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

President Shabuddin decided it in a meeting with Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman and navy and air forces’ heads. Top leaders of various opposition parties including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami also attended this meeting.

*Official Press Release by President Shahbuddin’s team*

They also decided to release all arrested people during the student protest movement against the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

These significant decisions came after Hasina’s resignation and immediate escape on August 5, 2024, in the aftermath of student protests.

Following her quit, General Waker announced that the army of Bangladesh would form a caretaker government. All meeting attendees agreed to immediately establish a caretaker government to restore peace and order in the country.

Hence, President Shahbuddin has dissolved the Parliament of Bangladesh. Bangladeshi students have proposed the name of Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as chief advisor of an interim government.

Students leadership of Bangladesh have made the president to dissolve the Parliament.

THERE IS NO SPACE FOR UNDEMOCRATIC FORCES!

more power to those students.#Bangladesh https://t.co/jnEqcAENMG
— Qaisar Javed (@QaisarJaved_) August 6, 2024

However, Hasina escaped from Bangladesh after she failed to cope with anti-government protests in early July against her 2018 quota system.

Her brutal orders to suppress the protest movement of students took the lives of nearly 100 people on August 4, 2024. It led to chaotic and more violent resistance movements from students which forced her to leave the country and resign.

In #Bangladesh, a Gen Z revolution is unfolding. For 16+ years, the regime used divide and rule. This July, Gen Z united people of all genders, religions, classes, and ideologies. They must win, or Sheikh Hasina's dictatorship will seal the nation's fate. #GenZRevolution pic.twitter.com/tWNUaAtRNe
— Punny Kabir (@Kabir_Punny) August 4, 2024

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Meanwhile, Hasina Sheikh’s chief rival Khaleda Zia is set to be released after spending 776 days in house arrest. She received a 17-year jail sentence for allegedly stealing nearly $250,000 from donations for an orphanage trust. She has been under house arrest since 2018.

However, BNP party members accused Hasina of framing Khaleda in the fraudulent case. According to them, Khaela became the target of political victimization by Hasina.

Khaleda is currently 78 years old and suffering from poor health. Time will reveal whether she will contest for the premiership of Bangladesh or not.