Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia came forward for the first time after 6 years, is a staunch opponent of Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka: After the coup in Bangladesh, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia appeared in public for the first time after six years. The Bangladesh opposition leader, who is suffering from serious illnesses, was released from house arrest after her long-time political rival Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power. Zia was imprisoned since 2018 on corruption charges, but Khalid Zia was released after Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh in August. It is noteworthy that a student-led national uprising in Bangladesh ended Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule and she had to leave the country to save her life.

His appearance at a function to mark the country's Armed Forces Day on Thursday was his first public appearance since his release from jail. Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus, who led the interim government to restore the country's democracy, welcomed him, during which the two leaders were seen sitting together and having a cordial conversation.

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We are lucky- Mohammad Yunus

During this, Mohammad Yunus said that we are especially fortunate and feel honored today that Begum Khaleda Zia has graced us with her presence. We are all happy that she joined us today. Let us tell you that 79 year old Khaleda Zia has been suffering from many serious problems for a long time. His health is continuously deteriorating. He is confined to a wheelchair due to arthritis and also suffers from diabetes and liver cirrhosis.

First public appearance after release

Until Thursday, she remained out of the limelight despite her release, except briefly addressing a political rally in a video message from her hospital bed. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said more than two dozen of its leaders were also present. According to a local Bangladeshi newspaper report, when party general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir saw Zia at the event, he lost his temper and started crying.

was under house arrest for a long time

Zia spent most of her sentence under house arrest after being transferred from jail during the coronavirus pandemic, but she was denied repeated requests to travel abroad for medical treatment. Alamgir told a Wednesday rally in the city of Feni that Zia was very ill, being kept in jail on false charges in a small, damp cell. Bangladeshi media outlets reported in October that Zia might travel abroad for a medical checkup in the near future, without specifying an exact date.