The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday overturned its previous stance in the Zia Orphanage Trust case filed against former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and five others, including her son, Tarique Rahman on charge of corruption. During the hearing on the appeal, the ACC lawyer now claims that there was no misappropriation of the trust's funds.
The three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam fixed Monday for giving its decision on whether the appeal filed by Khaleda Zia challenging her sentence would be granted or not.
ACC lawyer Asif Hasan announced the shift during a hearing on Khaleda Zia's appeal, which challenges a 2018 High Court ruling that increased her sentence periods from five to ten years.
The ACC's reversal came after Sheikh Hasina's departure as prime minister following a mass student-led uprising on August 5. During the hearing, Khaleda's lawyers, Zainul Abedin and Kayser Kamal, argued for her acquittal, labelling the verdict 'one-sided.'
Attorney General Asaduzzaman, assisting the court, contended that the case was a form of political harassment targeting Khaleda, her family, and opposition politicians under both the caretaker and subsequent Awami League governments.
This case marks a significant turn in the legal battle over allegations of corruption involving BNP leaders, with the ACC's new stance potentially impacting the outcome of Khaleda's appeal.
Senior advocates Zainul Abedin and AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Kayser Kamal, Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Advocate Gazi Qamrul Islam Sazal and Jakir Hossain Bhuiyan stood for Khaleda Zia, while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman and Advocate Asif Hasan argued for the state and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) respectively.
The case was filed on July 3 in 2008, during a military-backed caretaker government, had alleged that Khaleda and her co-accused misappropriated Tk 2.10 crore intended for the Zia Orphanage Trust.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on February 8, 2018, convicted former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The High Court on October 30, 2018, extended the BNP chief's jail term to 10 years.
