Full verdict released acquitting Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman

The Appellate Division on Wednesday released the full verdict acquitting BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, overturning the High Court’s decision that had upheld her 10-year prison sentence.

The 59-page judgment, authored by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, was published on the Supreme Court’s website.

A five-member appellate bench led by the Chief Justice unanimously allowed Khaleda Zia’s appeal.

Senior lawyers Zainul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Badruddoza Badol, Ruhul Quddus Kajol, and Kayser Kamal represented Khaleda Zia, assisted by Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan and Maksud Ullah.

Senior lawyer SM Shahjahan represented Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal. Additional Attorney General Arshadur Rauf and Anik R. Haque appeared on behalf of the state, while lawyer Asif Hasan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Zainul Abedin said the case “had no merit” and alleged that the previous judgments were politically motivated. He added that the court not only allowed Khaleda’s appeal but also acquitted Tarique Rahman and other accused who had not filed appeals, ruling that the prosecution was “malicious and vindictive.”

ACC counsel Asif Hasan stated that all four appeals in the case were allowed, and the convictions handed down by both the trial court and the High Court were annulled, granting full acquittal to all accused, including Tarique Rahman and Kamal Siddiqui.

Earlier, on 11 November last year, the Appellate Division had suspended the High Court verdict that enhanced Khaleda Zia’s sentence and permitted her to appeal. Khaleda subsequently filed her appeal.

Khaleda had earlier appealed on 10 February 2018 following a five-year prison sentence imposed by the Special Judge’s Court-5 in Dhaka on 8 February. Later, on 30 October 2018, a High Court bench increased her sentence to 10 years while rejecting the appeals of other convicts in the case.