Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was jailed for five years on Thursday after being found guilty in a corruption case by a Special Judge’s Court in Dhaka.
The court also awarded 10-year-sentences to Tarique Rahman — Ms. Zia’s son and the party’s exiled vice-chairman — and four others.
Amid tight security in key cities across the country, the court convicted Ms. Zia of embezzlement.
Foreign donations case
She was charged with misappropriating Tk 21 million in foreign donations received by the ‘Zia Orphanage Trust’.
“She was given a shorter term, considering her health and social status,” Judge Mohammad Akhteruzzaman said as he passed the sentence.
Ms. Zia was later taken to the Old Central Jail on the capital’s Nazimuddin Road.
“We didn’t get justice. We’ll go to the higher court,” said Khandker Mahbub Hossain, the leader of Ms. Zia’s legal team.
Ms. Zia is due to run in the parliamentary election in December, and can still do so if an appeal is pending.
AP reports from Dhaka:
Ms. Zia was present in the courtroom when the verdict was delivered.
Security forces, fearing clashes, poured into the streets ahead of the verdict, as did Ms. Zia supporters, who thronged her motorcade on the way to the courtroom.
The conviction means Ms. Zia, longtime rival of the current Prime Minister, could be barred from running in the December national elections.
You have reached your limit for free articles this month.
Subscription Benefits Include
Today's Paper
Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list.
Unlimited Access
Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.
Personalised recommendations
A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.
Faster pages
Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.
Dashboard
A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.
Briefing
We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.
Support Quality Journalism.
*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper, crossword and print.
A letter from the Editor
Dear subscriber,
Thank you!
Your support for our journalism is invaluable. It’s a support for truth and fairness in journalism. It has helped us keep apace with events and happenings.
The Hindu has always stood for journalism that is in the public interest. At this difficult time, it becomes even more important that we have access to information that has a bearing on our health and well-being, our lives, and livelihoods. As a subscriber, you are not only a beneficiary of our work but also its enabler.
We also reiterate here the promise that our team of reporters, copy editors, fact-checkers, designers, and photographers will deliver quality journalism that stays away from vested interest and political propaganda.
Suresh Nambath
Please Email the Editor