Dhaka, January 20: Former prime minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia was not able to meet her two jailed sons at her mother's funeral here as prison authorities staggered their parole.

Lodged in a special jail since Sep 3 last year, Zia burst into tears when she arrived at her residence in Dhaka cantonment to have a final glimpse of her mother Taiyaba Majumder.

Zia and her sons were released on parole Saturday to attend the funeral of Majumder, whose body was flown to Dhaka by an air force helicopter from Dinajpur in northern Bangladesh where she died Friday.

The former premier and her sons, Tariq and Arafat, could not meet each other as the jail authorities had their release staggered, The Daily Star reported Sunday. They were sent back to prison separately and were not allowed to attend a prayer at a mosque.

This was the first time the family enjoyed a brief freedom since being jailed on charges of corruption and misuse of office during Zia's tenure (2001-06).

While Tariq, who had complained of being tortured during interrogation, appeared fit, media pictures showed Arafat, who has been ailing, on a wheel chair.