Dhaka, Feb 8: Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was on Thursday jailed
for five years after she was found guilty in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption
case.
Her elder son Tarique and four others have been given 10
years in prison.
Judge Dr Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka special judge court-5 also sentenced other five accused, including her 'fugitive' elder son and BNP's senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10-year imprisonment each.
The Anti-Corruption Commission had lodged the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station on July 3, 2008, for embezzling Taka 2.10-crore, meant for the orphans.
The accused, including former lawmaker Kazi Salim Haque, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Khaleda's former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's nephew Momenur Rahman, were indicted in the cases on March 19, 2014.
According to the complainant, a grant of 1,255,000 dollars was transferred from the United Saudi Commercial Bank to the Prime Minister's Orphanage Fund. The fund was created by the then premier Khaleda, shortly before the transfer was made on June 9, 1991.
The complainant alleged that the fund was created as part of the embezzlement scheme, and only Khaleda administered the fund.
The Judge read a short summary of the 632-page verdict in the presence of Mrs Zia.
She entered the makeshift court premises at around 1340 hrs, accompanied by BNP supporters and activists.
Throughout the way, the former Prime Minister was escorted by a large number of law enforcers and party activists at the front.
Her motorcade witnessed tension in Moghbazar and Kakrail, on the way to court, where police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the activists, amid a standing ban on the gathering, clamped in this capital city for Thursday.
Meanwhile, two other accused in the case were already taken to the special court in the morning.As the verdict went against Khaleda, there is a possibility that she might not be able to contest the election slated for December this year.
Khaleda was made vice-chairperson of BNP in March 1983 after the assassination of her husband and former President, Ziaur Rahman.
She became chairperson of the party on May 10, 1984, a post she is holding till today. UNI
Judge Dr Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka special judge court-5 also sentenced other five accused, including her 'fugitive' elder son and BNP's senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10-year imprisonment each.
The Anti-Corruption Commission had lodged the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station on July 3, 2008, for embezzling Taka 2.10-crore, meant for the orphans.
The accused, including former lawmaker Kazi Salim Haque, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Khaleda's former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's nephew Momenur Rahman, were indicted in the cases on March 19, 2014.
According to the complainant, a grant of 1,255,000 dollars was transferred from the United Saudi Commercial Bank to the Prime Minister's Orphanage Fund. The fund was created by the then premier Khaleda, shortly before the transfer was made on June 9, 1991.
The complainant alleged that the fund was created as part of the embezzlement scheme, and only Khaleda administered the fund.
The Judge read a short summary of the 632-page verdict in the presence of Mrs Zia.
She entered the makeshift court premises at around 1340 hrs, accompanied by BNP supporters and activists.
Throughout the way, the former Prime Minister was escorted by a large number of law enforcers and party activists at the front.
Her motorcade witnessed tension in Moghbazar and Kakrail, on the way to court, where police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the activists, amid a standing ban on the gathering, clamped in this capital city for Thursday.
Meanwhile, two other accused in the case were already taken to the special court in the morning.As the verdict went against Khaleda, there is a possibility that she might not be able to contest the election slated for December this year.
Khaleda was made vice-chairperson of BNP in March 1983 after the assassination of her husband and former President, Ziaur Rahman.
She became chairperson of the party on May 10, 1984, a post she is holding till today. UNI
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