Khaleda acquitted in Zia Charitable Trust graft case

The High Court on Wednesday acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case, overturning her seven-year sentence.

The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the verdict, allowing Khaleda’s appeal against the earlier judgment.

On October 29, 2018, Dhaka’s Special Court No. 5 had sentenced Khaleda to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined her Tk10 lakh.

In default of the fine, she was to serve an additional six months in prison. Khaleda appealed the verdict soon after.

While serving her sentence, Khaleda Zia was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) multiple times for treatment.

Later, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, her family requested the government to release her on humanitarian grounds. The government suspended her sentence several times under special consideration.

Earlier this month, Khaleda’s lawyer Zainul Abedin said that she sought no mercy and preferred a legal resolution to the case.

He urged the court to expedite the appeal hearing.

Following this request, the court allowed the preparation of the appeal’s paper book at the defence’s expense. The hearing concluded with the High Court ruling in Khaleda’s favour.