Khaleda Zia challenges 5-year sentence in graft case

Dhaka, February 20

Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia on Tuesday challenged the five-year prison sentence handed out to her in a corruption case, claiming that the verdict was politically motivated to debar her from contesting the general elections in December.

The 72-year-old three-time former prime minister and main opposition leader was sentenced by Dhaka's Special Court on February 8 in connection with the embezzlement of 21 million taka (about $250,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust, named after her late husband Ziaur Rahman, a military ruler-turned-politician.

The verdict simultaneously sentenced Zia's "fugitive" elder son and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP's) senior vice president Tarique Rahman as he was tried in absentia. Rahman and four others have been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Legal experts said the verdict may jeopardise Zia's career as she may be disqualified from contesting polls, including the general elections slated for December unless she could obtain a different direction from the Supreme Court.

A day after receiving a copy of the trial court's verdict, her counsels filed an appeal in the High Court challenging the verdict.

The 1,223-page dossier, which mentions Abdur Rezak Khan as the filing lawyer, cited 25 grounds for Zia’s acquittal alleging that the verdict was politically motivated to debar her from contesting elections, an allegation denied by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government.

"As soon as the court schedules the hearing, we will file a bail petition," Sagir Hossain, one of the defence counsels, told the media.

Court officials said a two-judge bench is expected to hear the appeal prayer on February 22.

The corruption case is one of dozens pending against Zia, who has been a rival of Hasina for decades. The charges against her had already led to her boycotting polls in 2014, which triggered widespread protests at the time.

Zia, however, appears to be seeking to contest the polls this year.

BNP's secretary general Mirza Falhrul islam Alamgir earlier this week told a protest rally that the party would not take part in polls without Zia. He said, "No national elections will be held without BNP Chairperson Zia."

However, Hasina yesterday said her government could do nothing if the main Opposition outside parliament, BNP decides to boycott the polls. She said the elections will be held in due time whether the BNP takes part or not.

"What we could do if they want to abstain from the elections...the court has awarded her the imprisonment, we did not and (so) we can't withdraw it either,” she told a press conference.

Hasina said the case against the ex-premier was lodged in 2008 by the past military-backed interim government led by Zia’s confidantes while the independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) carried out its investigation.

Zia, who served as the premier thrice since 1991, faces 30 more charges, ranging from corruption to sedition.

The BNP installed Zia's son Rahman as the acting party chief after her conviction, drawing massive government criticism. Hasina said it reflected the party’s "moral poverty". — PTI