The government wants the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia should be released from jail through the court’s order, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim said today.

He also expressed hope that BNP along with its chief will participate in the upcoming 11th parliamentary polls which is expected to be held at the end of this year.

“We want Khaleda to be released as it looks odd that a big politician like her remains in prison,” the minister told journalists this afternoon after attending a roundtable at the offices of Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

About the BNP leaders’ remarks on not allowing the upcoming polls without Khaleda, he said they cannot say this as it is against the rules.

“Vote is a constitutional right of people. BNP won’t be able to snatch it if the people take part there. The next parliamentary election will be held in December this year,” said Nasim, also a presidium member of the ruling Awami League.

BNP has become isolated from people through not taking part in the parliamentary polls in 2014, he added.

Meanwhile, the High Court today deferred till 2:00pm tomorrow for passing necessary order regarding the bail petition of Khaleda in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case in which she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment last month.