<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia can take part in politics, but she is barred from contesting in the next general election because of her conviction for corruption, Law Minister Anisul Huq said on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The government will not interfere in her doing politics, the minister said adding “Whether she will do politics or not, it’s her personal matter.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The minister was talking to reporters after attending an orientation course held at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) in the city.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The constitution states that any person who has been sentenced to two years of imprisonment cannot participate in the elections. There is nothing new to say,” said Anisul.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BNP leader has been convicted of cases of corruption in Zia Orphanage Trust and sentenced to 10 years in jail. In another corruption case involving Zia Charitable Trust she has been given seven years of imprisonment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Her sentences have been suspended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on humanitarian grounds because of her poor health. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>