BD President orders release of Khaleda Zia immediately

DHAKA:  Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin has ordered the release of former prime minister and key opposition leader Khaleda Zia, just hours after the ousting of her rival Sheikh Hasina and the military’s assumption of power.

A statement from the president’s press team announced that a meeting chaired by Shahabuddin “unanimously decided to free Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately.” The meeting was attended by Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the heads of the navy and air force, and senior leaders from several opposition parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

The statement also mentioned that the meeting decided to release all individuals arrested during the recent student protests.

Earlier in the day, General Zaman addressed the nation on state television, announcing Hasina’s resignation and the military’s plan to form a caretaker government. The meeting also decided to establish an interim government immediately.

Hasina had been facing nationwide protests against her government since early July. She fled the country following violent unrest on Sunday, which resulted in nearly 100 deaths.

Khaleda Zia, aged 78, is in poor health and currently hospitalized after being sentenced to 17 years in prison for corruption in 2018.