Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has acquitted former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in a long-standing 2008 corruption case, paving the way for the ailing leader to contest parliamentary elections in the politically turbulent South Asian nation.
A Victory For Khaleda Zia
The verdict is the latest judicial victory for Khaleda Zia and her family, one of the two main groups that have dominated Bangladesh’s politics.
A five-judge panel led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed acquitted Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and others, overturning jail sentences handed down by the High Court in 2018.
At that time, Bangladesh was ruled by Khaleda’s rival, Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina was ousted as Prime Minister in August last year following mass protests.
Hasina was forced to resign and fled to neighbouring India.
Charges Against Khaleda Zia
The case, dating back to 2008, accused Khaleda and others of stealing 21 million taka ($173,000) in foreign donations for an orphanage trust set up when she was Prime Minister, from 2001 to 2006.
“The case was so vile that both those who appealed and those who couldn’t appeal have all been acquitted,” Defence lawyer Zainul Abedin said after the verdict.
In November, Khaleda, 79, was acquitted in another corruption case in which she had been accused of misappropriation of 31.5 million taka from another trust in 2005.
Last week, Khaleda, who has battled health issues such as liver cirrhosis and heart problems, was flown to London for treatment.
2004 Grenade Attack Case Acquittal
Last month, a High Court acquitted Rahman and others of a 2004 grenade attack on Hasina’s rally.
Rahman is the Acting Chairperson of Khaleda’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and has been in exile in London.
Interim Government
Since August, Bangladesh has been ruled by an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The BNP has called for general elections to be held by August in the greater interest of the country, citing growing political and economic instability.
(With inputs from Reuters)
