Photo: Collected
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and all others from the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. A full Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed announced the verdict this morning (15 January).
The previous High Court and lower court verdicts in the Zia Orphanage Trust case have also been dismissed. The apex court, in its observation, said the case is entirely flawed and motivated.
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/JRTarek
