Dhaka: The High Court (HC) today granted a petition allowing the preparation of a paper book at personal expense to facilitate an appeal against the seven-year conviction of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case. The decision was made by a High Court bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain after the petition was submitted by Begum Zia’s legal team.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Begum Zia’s legal representatives, including Senior Advocate Joynul Abedin, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Barrister Md Ruhul Kuddus Kajol, Advocate Aminul Islam, and Advocate Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajol, advocated on her behalf. Senior Advocate Joynul Abedin emphasized that Begum Khaleda Zia sought no preferential treatment, desiring only legal resolution of her case. He stated, “So, we want to file an appeal before the court against the conviction order against her in the graft case. The concerned court has granted our petition to prepare
the paper book of the case at our own cost.”
In October 2018, a court sentenced Begum Khaleda Zia and three others to seven years in prison in the graft case. Additionally, the court imposed fines and directed the confiscation of 42 kathas of land purchased for the trust, transferring it to government custody. Subsequently, Begum Zia filed an appeal with the High Court challenging the judgment.
Begum Zia faced challenges in securing justice, being denied bail during what was described as the ousted fascist government. Eventually, she obtained conditional bail through an executive order by the government. Her release from sub-jail on August 6 was facilitated by an executive order following a joint meeting at Bangabhaban on August 5, attended by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders, political party representatives, civil society members, and student movement leaders.
The political climate at the time was marked by the departure of former Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, who le
ft the country amid a mass uprising led by the anti-discrimination student movement on August 5.