Khaleda on way to court

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      Khaleda on way to court

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia left her Gulshan residence to appear in the make-shift court in Old Dhaka's Bakshibazar that is set to deliver its verdict in a graft case against her today.

According to UNB, Khaleda Zia started around 11:45am from Gulshan as the city witnessed the massive presence of law enforcement.
The court on 25 January fixed 8 February (Thursday) to hand down the judgment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case that implicated Khaleda Zia, and five others on Thursday.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on 3 July 2008 with Ramna police station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK, and four others of misappropriating over 2.10 crore that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
Four other accused are former BNP MP Salimul Haq Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique and Mominur Rahman, nephew of late President Ziaur Rahman.
Kamal Uddin Siddique and Mominur Rahman have long been absconding.

Khaleda Zia enters old central jail

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia entered the old Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road in the capital this afternoon, soon after she was handed a five-year imprisonment for misappropriating a donation fund.

Khaleda, who is being accompanied by her domestic help, was taken to the jail by a white SUV surrounded by a contingent of law enforcers from a special court at Bakshibazar.

Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman sentenced the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to five years in jail after she was found guilty in the Zia Orphanage Trust Corruption case.

Her eldest son and BNP’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and four others were awarded 10 years in the case with a fine of Tk 2.10 crore each in the politically significant case ahead of the parliamentary election.

The judge sentenced Khaleda to rigorous imprisonment and said the term was reduced due to “her health and social status”.

Dhaka, Bangladesh - A court in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, has sentenced former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to jail in a corruption case.

Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Court-5 on Thursday sentenced the two-time former prime minister to five years rigorous imprisonment. He read out selected parts of the 632-page verdict.

"The verdict proves no one is above the law," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haque said after the verdict was announced amid tight security.Zia, chairperson of the country's main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and five others were accused of embezzlement of funds meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust.

Police use tear gas

After the verdict, supporters hit the streets of Dhaka, blocking roads and clashing with police.Earlier, thousands of BNP leaders and activists escorted Zia’s motorcade to court despite an overwhelming presence of security forces in the capital.Activists from the ruling Awami League and its affiliate organizations had also occupied key points of Dhaka to stop BNP supporters from demonstrating.

Political Correspondent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government has nothing to do if BNP does not participate in the upcoming general election. “It is a political decision. We have nothing to do if BNP participate in the next general election,” Hasina said this while addressing a press conference at her official residence Gono Bhaban in Dhaka this afternoon

BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed expected that the party Chairperson Khaleda Zia will secure bail on the upcoming Sunday.
The BNP stalwart came up with the hope while speaking at a programme at Conference Lounge of the National Press Club in the capital on Friday.
Moudud said, “We filed an appeal petition seeking bail to Khaleda Zia. Hearing on it will be held on Sunday.  She has right to get bail in the case.”



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