Khaleda, Tarique, all others acquitted from Zia Orphanage Trust case
The Appellate Division scrapped the previous High Court and lower court verdicts in the Zia Orphanage Trust case
Highlights:
- Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, 4 others acquitted
- Appellate Division scraps previous High Court, lower court verdicts
- Case vindictive, trial flawed and motivated, says chief justice in observation
- Says case was filed to try to humiliate Khaleda
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and four others from the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.
A five-member bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed announced the verdict this morning (15 January).
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The Appellate Division scrapped the previous High Court and lower court verdicts in the Zia Orphanage Trust case.
The apex court, in its observation, said the case is entirely flawed and motivated.
"The Zia Orphanage Trust case was vindictive, and the trial was entirely flawed," said Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed in observation.
He said the case was used to try to humiliate Khaleda Zia publicly.
Although Tarique Rahman and another individual were convicted by the trial court and could not appeal, the apex court today said the other defendants are also being acquitted since the verdicts of both the trial court and the High Court have been cancelled.
After the verdict, Khaleda Zia's lawyer, Joynul Abedin, said, "The High Court Division previously increased the sentence from five to ten years in a case where there was nothing. This is very unfortunate. There was no merit in that case at all."
"It means there was no justice system. It used to happen as the fascist government would dictate. Today, it seemed like the judiciary has worked independently," he added.
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.
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 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.
Later, the BNP leader was sentenced to an additional seven years. At the time, she was still in prison at the Central Jail in Old Dhaka.
After the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, following a request from Khaleda's family in the year 2020, then prime minister Sheikh Hasina suspended the BNP leader's sentence for six months.
On 25 March that year, she was temporarily released and returned to her Gulshan residence.
Clad in pink, Khaleda finally finds 'freedom'
Later on, Sheikh Hasina's government had been extending Khaleda Zia's release period every six months.
Each time, there were two conditions – Khaleda had to be homebound, and she could not go abroad for medical treatment.
On 6 August last year, Khaleda was completely freed by an order of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on 5 August, the president pardoned her sentence.
However, even after the president's pardon, BNP's lawyers stated that the cases would still have to be fought legally.
They emphasised that Khaleda Zia respects the law. While the president has pardoned her sentence, the term "pardon" implies mercy. Khaleda Zia does not believe in mercy as she did not commit any crime and did not seek mercy. Therefore, she would address the matter legally, and accordingly, she continued her legal battle, according to the lawyers.
On 8 January this year, Khaleda Zia travelled to London for medical treatment
