Zia Orphanage Trust case trial was entirely flawed: Chief justice

The Zia Orphanage Trust case was vindictive and the trial was entirely flawed, said Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed in observation while delivering the final verdict in the case on Wednesday (15 January).

The apex court on Wednesday morning acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman and all other convicts from the corruption case after allowing their appeals challenging the convictions and seeking acquittal.

The previous High Court and lower court verdicts in the Zia Orphanage Trust case have also been dismissed.

"This case was used to try to humiliate Khaleda Zia publicly," the chief justice said.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in July 2008, accusing Khaleda of misappropriating over Tk2.10 crore that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.

On 8 February 2018, the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-5 sentenced former prime minister Khaleda to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust case.

The same verdict handed 10-year sentences to Khaleda's son and the BNP's Acting Chairperson, Tarique Rahman, former Magura MP Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, and three others.

Subsequently, on 30 October 2018, in response to an appeal by the ACC, the High Court increased Khaleda's prison sentence to 10 years.

On 6 August last year, Khaleda was completely freed by an order of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.