BNP chairwoman Khaleda Zia has been acquitted of 10 years in prison in the recent Zia Orphan Fund case. But apart from this, there are about 5 to 6 cases pending against him in different courts in the country. Khaleda Zia’s lawyers are working to dismiss these cases through legal procedures.
On January 15, the Appeals Chamber overturned the ruling of the lower court and the Supreme Court in the Zia Orphanage Foundation corruption case. As a result, Khaleda Zia was acquitted of the 10-year prison sentence imposed by the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the court acquitted acting Nationalist Party Chairman Tariq Rahman and other defendants despite being unable to appeal. Chief Justice Dr Khaleda Zia’s appeal against the Supreme Court ruling. The Appeals Chamber, headed by Syed Rifaat Ahmed, issued this ruling.
There were a total of 37 cases against Khaleda Zia. Most of these cases are cases of sabotage and defamation. These cases occurred during the caretaker government in 2007 and the Awami League government in 2008. Khaleda Zia was convicted in only two cases.
However, the day after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, the President waived the sentence against Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Fund and Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases. Khaleda Zia was also acquitted in another corruption case. There is another corruption case under consideration in the judicial court.
Regarding the recent status of the ongoing cases, one of Khaleda Zia’s lawyers, Advocate Qaiser Kamal, told Bangla Tribune: “Currently, the NAICO corruption case is ongoing in the judicial court. There are 3 sabotage cases in Comilla. Among this there are half of the defamation cases.”
He said: Every case was filed for political and retaliatory reasons. Begum Khaleda Zia’s name was not included in Comilla’s case list. However, his name appeared in the indictment. All this is done for political purposes. But she (Khaleda Zia) always respects the law. We hope that his case will be settled quickly through legal action.
“Cases have been filed against the country’s popular leader Begum Khaleda Zia in various courts in the country to humiliate and stifle her politically,” National Lawyers Forum president and senior lawyer Zainul Abidin told Bangla Tribune. We handled these cases legally. We are working to resolve the remaining issues. I hope he will be freed from these false and harassing cases soon.