SC acquits Khaleda Zia, others in Zia Orphanage Trust case

Begum Khaleda Zia and everyone else were cleared of graft allegations in the Zia Orphanage Trust case by the Supreme Court’s (SC) Appellate Division today.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed’s Appellate Division unanimously ruled this morning that those found guilty and jailed by the lower court in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case were not guilty, allowing them to appeal the case.

The court issued a ruling nullifying the lower court verdict that first found them all guilty and the High Court order that increased Begum Khaleda Zia’s original five-year jail sentence to ten years in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
 
Senior lawyers Zainul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Badruddoza Badal, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Kaiser Kamal, and Adv Gazi Qamrul Islam Sazal took part in the hearing for the former prime minister. 

Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, Additional Attorney Generals Mohammad Arshadur Rouf and Aneek Rushd Haque stood for the state, while Adv Md Asif Hasan argued for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Senior Advocate SM Shahjahan argued for another appellant Qazi Salimul Haque. 
 
On November 11, 2024, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia filed two leave to appeal petitions with the supreme court, which stayed the High Court’s decision to increase her five-year jail sentence to ten years in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Begum Khaleda Zia’s attorneys said that the prosecution was unable to produce any documentation proving she had signed checks or approved notes, or even proving she had signed any official government documents.

“Even the fund, we are talking about, is in the bank intact,” Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon said.
 
“This infamous case was filed with a political scheme. The lower court concerned in February 2018, gave the judgment illegally. The High Court after that, being politically biased, gave a judgment illegally, enhancing Begum Khaleda Zia’s five-year jail term to 10 years after holding a one-sided hearing,” Barrister Kayser Kamal said earlier.

“Not a single penny was embezzled from the fund of Taka 2.33 crore. The whole fund is in the bank. It was just moved; the initial amount and interest against that are in the account” ACC counsel Md Asif Hasan said during the hearing.

Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on February 8, 2018, convicted former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five years’ jail in the case.  

Five other people, including her son and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, were also given 10-year prison sentences.

On October 30, 2018, the High Court increased the BNP chief’s prison sentence to ten years.
 
Mohammed Shahabuddin, hours after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, commuted the sentences of Begum Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases. But the BNP chairperson decided to fight the legal battle at the court for her acquittal, saying she is respectful towards the law. She doesn’t want any clemency, but to fight the legal battle accordingly, her counsels said.