Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday hoped that good sense would prevail upon the government to consider the application submitted by the party chief Khaleda Zia’s family seeking extension of her temporary release.

"We've always been saying Begum Khaleda Zia was convicted unfairly in false cases. She deserved bail, not punishment," he said.

The BNP leader said, "We hope good sense will prevail upon the government to free Begum Khaleda Zia."

He made the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at party founder Ziaur Rahman's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar grave, marking the 42nd founding anniversary of BNP.

On Monday, law minister Anisul Huq said the government would take the decision on extending BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's temporary release after considering her health condition and reviewing her family’s application.

As the six-month suspension of her sentences in two graft cases expires on September 24, Khaleda Zia's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted the application to home minister Asaduzzaman Khan on August 25 which was later sent to the law ministry.

On March 25 last, the 76-year-old BNP chief was released from jail for six months upon an executive order considering her age and humanitarian ground following an application by her family.

The government passed the executive order for her release on two conditions — receiving treatment at her Gulshan residence and not leaving the country. She has been staying at her Gulshan residence since she was freed.

Khaleda was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after she had been sentenced to five years' imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.

The BNP chief has been staying at her Gulshan residence since she was released. A special team of her personal doctors has been overseeing her health condition.