DHAKA: Bangladesh’s President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday evening ordered the release of jailed former Prime Minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia, hours after the military took control of the government following her political rival, Sheikh Hasina was ousted.
In a statement released by the president’s press team, it was announced that a high-level meeting chaired by President Shahabuddin had unanimously decided to free Khaleda Zia, the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The meeting, which was attended by Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the heads of the navy and air force, and leaders of several opposition parties including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, also resolved to release all people who had been detained during the student-led protests.
Earlier in the day, General Zaman addressed the nation via state television, announcing that Sheikh Hasina had resigned in the face of mass protests and violence. He stated that the military would assume control to manage the country’s affairs and establish a caretaker government. The formation of this interim government was one of the key resolutions of the emergency meeting.
Sheikh Hasina’s resignation came amid widespread unrest that erupted on Sunday, resulting in nearly 100 fatalities. The violence, largely driven by protests against her government, forced Hasina to flee the country.
Khaleda Zia, 78, who has been imprisoned since 2018 following a conviction on corruption charges, is reported to be in deteriorating health and was recently confined to a hospital.
