A court in Cumilla has acquitted former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from a case filed on charge of sabotage in Chauddagram, Cumilla in 2015.
Cumilla Additional Sessions Judge Court-2 Judge Afroza Jesmin passed the order as the charges against Khaleda Zia has not been proven. Public Prosecutor of Cumilla court Advocate Kaimul Haque Rinku acknowledged the verdict that exempted Khaleda.
On January 25 in 2015, the case was filed against 32 people, including Khaleda Zia, in connection with vandalising and setting fire to a covered van during the hartal on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Chauddagram of Cumilla. Following the incident, police filed a case under the Special Powers Act, 1974 with Chauddagram Police Station. Police submitted a charge sheet against 42 persons in the case before the court. Thirty six of them were acquitted from the charges while the decision on six others will be taken later as they earlier received a suspension order in favour of them in the case. The court granted acquittal to all accused based on an appeal by Khaleda Zia’s lawyers.
