Hasina implicated Khaleda Zia, Tarique in false case for political gains: jurists
The senior lawyers defending the cases of Begum Khaleda Zia and other jurists at the apex court, today said ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina implicated the BNP chairperson and her son and party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman in false cases like Zia Orphanage Trust graft case for fulfilling her political ambition and prolonging fascism in the country.
They came up with the observations after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today acquitted all, including Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, of graft charges in the Zia Orphanage Trust case.
“All the appeals are allowed,” said the short judgment pronounced by the Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed. The apex court delivered the unanimous judgment this morning, scrapping the verdicts of the High Court and the lower court in this case.
The Appellate Division in its observations said because of today’s judgment, dignity of all the appellants and convicts will be fully restored, their innocence will be reaffirmed and the unjustified proceedings against them will end.
“The High Court had extended the jail term from five years to 10 in a case, which had no merit at all. It is very unfortunate. This case had no merit in it. Verdict was given following the direction of then fascist regime. It was malicious prosecution, it shows their hatred towards the Zia family, their hatred towards the whole Bangladesh,” said senior advocate Zainul Abedin.
Barrister Kaiser Kamal, who also defended the cases of Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, said all the people, who were wrongfully convicted in the case, have finally got justice.
“This case was filed only for the personal enmity, vengeance of Sheikh Hasina, and to malign the whole Zia family, destroy the family. Today’s judgment once again proved that Begum Khaleda Zia was innocent. Sheikh Hasina implicated Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman in false cases like Zia Orphanage Trust graft case for fulfilling her political ambition and prolonging fascism in the country. All these were part of a political scheme,” he said.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) counsel Advocate Md Asif Hasan said all the four appeals were allowed as the apex court scrapped the verdicts of the High Court and lower court concerned.
“…similarly those who could not file appeal, have also been acquitted by the court as it termed the whole proceedings as malicious prosecution. That is why they too were acquitted. I will inform ACC about this judgment and it will take a decision on the next step after that,” Advocate Hasan added.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on February 8, 2018, convicted former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the case.
It also sentenced five others including her son and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to 10 years’ imprisonment each. The other convicts were former lawmaker Qazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Mominur Rahman.
The ACC on March 28, 2018, filed a petition with the High Court, pleading to extend Khaleda Zia’s jail term in the case. Allowing the ACC plea, the High Court on October 30, 2018, extended the BNP chief’s jail term to 10 years.
The apex court on November 11, 2024, allowed two leave to appeal petitions filed by BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, staying the High Court order that extended her five-year jail term to 10 in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
BSS
