Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia acquitted in corruption case

Dhaka, January 15 — BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been acquitted by the Appellate Division in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, overturning the High Court’s earlier 10-year prison sentence.

The verdict was delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed after reviewing Khaleda Zia’s appeal against the High Court’s ruling on Wednesday.

The Appellate Division noted that the case was motivated by revenge.

Khaleda Zia was sentenced on February 8, 2018, by Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-5 to five years of imprisonment for alleged embezzlement of government funds in the name of the Zia Orphanage Trust.

The same verdict handed down 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for five other accused, including Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman and former chief secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui. Each of the accused was also fined Tk2.1 crore.

Khaleda Zia appealed the trial court’s verdict to the High Court, but the sentence was increased to 10 years by a High Court bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman on October 30, 2018.

Khaleda Zia subsequently filed a leave-to-appeal petition against this sentence.

Following years of delays due to legal procedural issues and a lack of initiative from lawyers, the Appellate Division accepted Khaleda Zia’s leave-to-appeal on November 11, 2024.

The court also stayed the High Court’s 10-year sentence pending the final hearing of the appeal.

After concluding the hearing, the Appellate Division announced its decision to acquit Khaleda Zia, officially clearing her of the charges in the case.

—Dhaka Tribune