Khaleda Zia makes first public appearance in six years after release from house arrest in Bangladesh
dawn.com — November 21, 2024, 03:01 PM UTC
Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, made her first public appearance in six years on Thursday. This follows her release from house arrest in August after the ousting of her rival, Sheikh Hasina. Zia had been jailed for corruption since 2018. At a reception for Armed Forces Day, Zia, 79, was welcomed by interim government leader Muhammad Yunus. She has been in poor health, using a wheelchair due to rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and liver issues. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party reported that many party leaders attended the event. Zia had largely remained out of the public eye since her release, except for a brief video message from a hospital bed.