Bangladesh ex-PM Khaleda Zia found guilty of corruption case, jailed for five years

NewsBharati    08-Feb-2018
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Dhaka, February 8: Bangladesh ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been sentenced to five years in jail for corruption by a Dhaka special court. The prominent face in Bangla politics, the chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP), was found guilty in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. Predicting the verdict, security around Bangladesh Capital Dhaka has already been tightened.

While Zia has been awarded five years of term, four other accused in the case including her eldest son and BNP’s Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman has been given 10 years in the case. The judge sentenced Khaleda the shorter term was for “her health and social status”. She is first ever Prime Minister of Bangladesh who got convicted in such case.

The Bangladeshi Anti-Corruption Commission had filed the graft case with Ramna Police Station in July 2008. The case was accusing Khaleda and five others of misappropriating over Tk 2.1 crore that had come from a foreign bank as grants for orphans. Later, a Dhaka court framed charges against the six accused in 2014.

Zia’s husband an ex-Military personnel Ziaur Rahman founded BNP. After the assassination of his husband, she was made vice-chairperson of BNP in March 1983. In her 35 years political career Zia went to jail several times. The verdict reduces the possibility of her contesting in upcoming the election slated for December this year. Khaleda Zia is the main opposition of current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Chhatra League has brought out a joyous procession from after the verdict. On the other hand, “As per the constitution, a person cannot contest the national polls if he or she is sentenced to jail two years or more, ” Law Minister Anisul Huq said on the question of her chance of contesting the election.

Khaleda Zia Bangladesh Dhaka Orphanage Trust Corruption Case Bangladesh Nationalist Party