Verdict on Khaleda today

Photo:thedailystar

The verdict in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and four others will be delivered today.

Law enforcement agencies have taken all necessary preparations to deal with any kind of political chaos over the verdict.

Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka’s Fifth Special Judge’s Court will deliver the verdict in the graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) during the last army-backed caretaker government in 2008.

After recording testimonies of 32 prosecution witnesses and arguments of both prosecution and defence lawyers during hearings, the court on January 24 set February 8 for delivering the judgment.

The special judge’s court was set up at the Parade Ground of Dhaka Central Jail Directorate at Bakshibazar in the capital to try the graft case.

Chief public prosecutor of the case Mosharraf Hossain Kajol said all the six accused may get maximum punishment as the prosecution proved the allegation against them in the graft case.

Khaleda’s lawyer Md Sanaullah Miah, however, expressed the hope that the former prime minister will be acquitted of the charges.

He said the BNP chief, now out on bail, would appear before the court around 11:00am to hear the judgment.

Two other accused in the case — former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed — are now behind bars while three accused — BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique, who is now staying in the UK, Mominur Rahman, nephew of late President Ziaur Rahman, and former principal secretary to the prime minister Kamal Uddin Siddique — are shown fugitives in the case.

During a visit to the court area on Wednesday noon, it was found that members of police and RAB were patrolling there. They were installing CCTV cameras at different establishment near the court to monitor the situation during the verdict.

Top police officials were seen supervising the preparation work.

Legal experts said if sentenced, Khaleda will definitely have to land in jail today.

The former prime minister may face the maximum sentence – life imprisonment – if proven guilty in the case.

They also said Khaleda would be out of the election race slated for December this year if she gets a minimum of two years jail term and if her conviction is not stayed by the higher court.

According to the case documents, Harunur Rashid, deputy director of the ACC, filed the case with Ramna Police Station under sections 409/109 of the Penal Code, section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act of 1947 and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules 2007.

According to the FIR, then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and other accused through unlawful practice embezzled over Tk 2.10 crore by establishing an organisation named Zia Orphanage Trust that exists only on paper.

After conclusion of the investigation, ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also investigating officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet against the six people on August 5, 2009.

However, the trial started against Khaleda and other accused five years later at Dhaka’s Third Special Judge’s Court on March 19, 2014.

Apart from the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, trial is going on against Khaleda Zia in Zia Charitable Trust graft case, Barapukuria coalmine corruption case, Gatco graft case and Niko graft case.

Source: dailysun