The foreign ministry has no knowledge of incarcerated BNP chief being released on parole and going to the United Kingdom, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
His remarks came on Thursday (Apr 18) while briefing the media about the prime minister’s three-day visit to Brunei.
Recently the media has been abuzz with reports that Khaleda might be released on parole and flown in to UK for treatment.
An English daily even reported specific dates saying that she will be going to UK any day before Apr 30 while the BNP MP-elects will be sworn in as lawmakers.
The BNP however shot down the claims, saying that the reports were baseless.
Responding to queries about whether the foreign ministry has been informed of any such visit, he said, “We have no information on the matter.”
Previously, BNP Joint Secretary Mahbub Uddin Khokon said, “Khaleda Zia is accused in 35 cases and among them she got bail in 33.”
On Apr 6, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, “The government will consider Khaleda’s release on parole if she can show specific reasons.”
However, on Apr 7, the party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamagir said, “We didn’t apply for Khaleda Zia’s release on parole as she is entitled to bail.
A three-time premier Khaleda is already serving a 17 year time for her involvement in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.