Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin has ordered the release of Opposition leader Khaleda Zia, according to AFP.
Zia is the chief of Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and served as the premier twice during 1991–96 and 2001–06.
The news Zia’s release comes hours after Sheikh Hasina fled the country for her life after resining as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in the wake of weeks of mass movement that climaxed on Sunday when nearly 100 people were killed, including 14 police personnel. Hasina is expected to eventually go to London where she will settle in exile after a stop-over in India.
BREAKING Bangladesh president orders release of jailed ex-PM and opposition chief Khaleda Zia: statement pic.twitter.com/hOxpO2kXPV
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 5, 2024
Zia was jailed in 2018 for five years in a corruption case. Later, she was put under house arrest.