DHAKA, Jan 15, (V7N) – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today acquitted former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and all others convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, marking the conclusion of a long-standing legal battle.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered a unanimous verdict overturning the previous rulings by lower courts and the High Court that had convicted and sentenced Khaleda Zia and her co-accused.

Judgment Details

The Appellate Division canceled:

The High Court order that extended Khaleda Zia's initial five-year jail term to 10 years.

The lower court order from February 2018, which initially convicted Khaleda Zia and sentenced her and others in the graft case.

Counsels representing Khaleda Zia, including senior lawyers Zainul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, and others, argued that the prosecution failed to produce any evidence linking the BNP Chairperson to embezzlement or misappropriation of funds.

No document showed Khaleda Zia’s approval or signature for fund disbursement.

The fund of Tk 2.33 crore in question was intact in the bank, including accrued interest.

The case was politically motivated, and prior judgments were influenced by bias.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), represented by Md Asif Hasan, maintained during hearings that the funds were moved but not embezzled. However, the Supreme Court found no grounds to uphold the convictions.

February 8, 2018: Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years in prison, while her son and BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and others received 10-year sentences.

October 30, 2018: The High Court extended Khaleda Zia’s sentence to 10 years.

November 11, 2024: The Supreme Court stayed the High Court's extension of her sentence, allowing appeals.

The case, initiated during Sheikh Hasina's government, was widely viewed by BNP leaders and supporters as politically motivated. Following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, President Mohammed Shahabuddin commuted Khaleda Zia’s sentences in related cases. However, Khaleda Zia chose to pursue legal avenues to clear her name, emphasizing her respect for the judiciary.

This landmark acquittal brings closure to a politically charged case that has been at the center of Bangladesh’s political discourse for years. The verdict also restores Khaleda Zia's standing as a key figure in the country’s political landscape.

The BNP hailed the verdict as a victory for justice, while legal experts called it a significant development in addressing politically influenced cases in Bangladesh.

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