President dissolves Bangladesh parliament, frees BNP chief Khaleda Zia

All students and detainees arrested between Jul 1 and Aug 5 will be released as well, a statement from the president's office says

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has dissolved parliament and freed BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia after meeting with the heads of the armed forces, different political parties, members of civil society and representatives from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

The decisions were announced in a press release from the Bangabhaban on Tuesday afternoon.

The statement said that Khaleda Zia was ‘freed’ after discussions with different political parties on Monday. It added that any members of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement or others detained from Jul 1 to Aug 5 in different cases will also be released.

The release process has already begun, it added.

The Anti-discrimination Student Movement, which led the anti-government protests that toppled the Awami League from power after 16 years, had set an ultimatum for the dissolution of parliament by 3pm on Tuesday.