Photo: Collected
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court tomorrow (15 January) will deliver its verdict on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's appeal seeking acquittal in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.
The final hearing on the appeal against her conviction in the case was held today (14 January). Court officials confirmed that the full Appellate Division bench, led by the chief justice, will announce the verdict tomorrow.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in July 2008, accusing Khaleda of misappropriating over Tk2.10 crore that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.
In August 2011, the ACC also filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon police station, accusing Khaleda and three others four of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources and abusing power. On 8 February 2018, the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-5 sentenced former prime minister Khaleda to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust case.
The same verdict handed 10-year sentences to Khaleda's son and the BNP's Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman, former Magura MP Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, and three others.
Subsequently, on 30 October 2018, in response to an appeal by the ACC, the High Court increased Khaleda's prison sentence to 10 years. On 6 August last year, Khaleda was completely freed by an order of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Messenger/Tareq
