Court clears Khaleda Zia of corruption charges in Boropukuria Coal Mine case

In a significant legal development, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been cleared of all charges in the Boropukuria coal mine corruption case, which involved an alleged 158 crore taka scam.

The court ruled that there was not enough evidence to prove her involvement, bringing an end to the case after 18 years.

On November 27, a Dhaka court, presided over by Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Abu Taher, made the decision. Along with Khaleda Zia, two other former BNP leaders—Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and Dr. Khondkar Mosharraf Hossain—were also acquitted in the same case.

The case, filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in February 2008, accused Khaleda Zia of being involved in corruption, mismanagement, and embezzlement at the Barapukuria coal mine.

Of the 16 accused in the case, nine have passed away, and one is still at large.

Khaleda Zia’s lawyers have consistently maintained that she was not involved in the alleged corruption, claiming that the case was politically motivated and intended to discredit her.

After the court’s decision, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and Dr. Khondkar Mosharraf Hossain spoke out, saying that the ruling Awami League government had used the case as a tool for political harassment.

They accused the government of targeting them with false charges to stay in power, alleging that they had been victims of fabricated cases, abductions, and even killings.