'Khaleda is kept as general prisoner as per jail code'

Staff Correspondent: Inspector General of Prisons Syed Iftekhar Uddin has said, "BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is kept as a general prisoner. She is not provided division as per jail code."

IG Prisons said this during a press briefing at Directorate of Prisons in Bakshibazar of Dhaka on Sunday noon.

He said, "Khaleda Zia is kept as a general prisoner following the jail code. She is now a general prisoner. She is being provided foods of prison."

She, however, is allowed to collect dried meals from outside, he added.

In reply to a query, he said, "We have not yet been received any copy of court order for Khaleda's division. It must be arranged once the order is received."

The IG prisons said, "Though it is mentioned in the jail code to provide division to current lawmakers and former presidents.  There is no clause of providing it to any former prime minister."

However, given her social status and her physical condition, the three-time prime minister is enjoying certain facilities that are not provided to general prisoners, the official said.

It has been learnt that Khaleda Zia was shifted to day-care center on the first floor of the three-storey women ward on Saturday night. Then, female prison guards helped her. Though any servant was not allowed for Khaleda, a nurse was deployed for her there.

A special court in Dhaka on Thursday convicted former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the much-talked-about Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

risingbd/Dhaka/February 11, 2018/Maksud/A K Azad