<p>Bangladesh on Wednesday released jailed former prime minister and main opposition leader Khaleda Zia for six months amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country.</p>.<p>The 74-year-old opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief is serving a 17-year prison term in two graft cases since February 8, 2018.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-first-indian-army-jawan-tests-positive-all-his-colleagues-quarantined-799686.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of coronavirus cases here</strong></a></p>.<p>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said Zia was freed conditionally on Wednesday afternoon on humanitarian grounds after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's approval.</p>.<p>Zia served thrice as the premier since 1991. Her party suffered a miserable defeat in the 2018 elections bagging only six seats in 300-seat parliament.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-812987.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>Her conviction on "moral turpitude" charges debarred her from contesting the polls.</p>.<p>She was sent to jail in February 2018 by a local court on charges of embezzling foreign donations meant for an orphanage, named after her slain husband and president Ziaur Rehman, during her premiership between 2001 and 2006.</p>.<p>Rehman, a military ruler-turned-politician, was the founder of the BNP.</p>.<p>She was convicted in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both cases are politically motivated. </p>
<p>Bangladesh on Wednesday released jailed former prime minister and main opposition leader Khaleda Zia for six months amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country.</p>.<p>The 74-year-old opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief is serving a 17-year prison term in two graft cases since February 8, 2018.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-first-indian-army-jawan-tests-positive-all-his-colleagues-quarantined-799686.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates of coronavirus cases here</strong></a></p>.<p>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said Zia was freed conditionally on Wednesday afternoon on humanitarian grounds after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's approval.</p>.<p>Zia served thrice as the premier since 1991. Her party suffered a miserable defeat in the 2018 elections bagging only six seats in 300-seat parliament.</p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-812987.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>Her conviction on "moral turpitude" charges debarred her from contesting the polls.</p>.<p>She was sent to jail in February 2018 by a local court on charges of embezzling foreign donations meant for an orphanage, named after her slain husband and president Ziaur Rehman, during her premiership between 2001 and 2006.</p>.<p>Rehman, a military ruler-turned-politician, was the founder of the BNP.</p>.<p>She was convicted in another corruption case later the same year, though her party claims both cases are politically motivated. </p>