Khaleda Zia and others acquitted in Zia Charitable Trust case

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and all others accused in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case have been acquitted by the High Court. 

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, November 27, by a bench consisting of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahman.

Khaleda Zia had previously been sentenced to seven years in prison in this case. 

On October 29, 2018, the trial court had found her guilty and sentenced her to seven years in jail, along with a fine of 1 million taka. 

Khaleda Zia appealed the decision to the High Court on November 18, 2018. Following the appeal, the High Court, on April 30, 2018, agreed to hear the case and temporarily halted the fine imposed by the lower court.

Earlier this year, after the Awami League government stepped down on August 5, Khaleda Zia‍‍`s sentences in both the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust cases were lifted. 

She was released on August 6. Following her release, Khaleda Zia applied for permission to prepare the necessary documents for her appeal against the trial court’s decision in the Zia Charitable Trust case. This led to the recent decision by the High Court.