BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been acquitted of a 10-year sentence in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The Appellate Division acquitted her on Wednesday (January 15). In the verdict, the court said that the case was filed out of revenge. Through this, Khaleda Zia's reputation has been defamed.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and other accused have been acquitted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case that has been going on for 14 years. On Wednesday, five judges of the Appellate Division including Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refat Ahmed unanimously announced the verdict. The Supreme Court granted Khaleda Zia's appeal against the High Court's sentence and gave the verdict.

In this historic verdict, the court stated that the case was filed with the intention of defaming Khaleda Zia and harassing her.

Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia's lawyers said in the hearing that the High Court Division sentenced Khaleda Zia in this case was a serious violation of the law. Not only that, the money of the Zia Orphanage Trust that was allegedly embezzled is also protected in that account. At the same time, this verdict was given to keep Khaleda Zia away from politics.

Relevantly, on February 8, 2018, the trial court sentenced former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. At the same time, each of the other five accused in the case was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Later, Khaleda Zia appealed against the verdict, seeking acquittal. On the other hand, the ACC appealed to increase the sentence. After hearing both appeals, the High Court increased the sentence to 10 years.

The BNP Chairperson also served more than two years in prison with that sentence. She could not participate in the national elections.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been acquitted of 10 years imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The Appellate Division acquitted her on Wednesday (January 15). At the same time, the judgment of the trial court and the High Court has been cancelled. In the same case, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and other accused have also been acquitted.

The Appellate Division of five judges headed by the Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed unanimously announced this verdict. Supreme Court granted Khaleda Zia's appeal against the High Court's sentence.

In the verdict, the court said that the case was filed due to revenge. Khaleda Zia has been defamed through this.

The charitable organization launched in the name of Ziaur Rahman, the founder of BNP; had a Zia Orphanage Trust. From 1991 to 1996, an account named 'Prime Minister's Orphan Fund' was opened in the Ramna branch of Sonali Bank. On June 9, 1991, the account received a foreign donation sent by the Emir of Kuwait. The money from this donation was not donated to any orphanage for the next two years. Two years later, Ziaur Rahman's two sons Tarique Rahman, Arafat Rahman and their cousin Mominur formed the Zia Orphanage Trust. After the formation of the trust, the grant was divided into two and allotted to Bogura and Bagerhat branches of the trust.

The Zia family was accused of embezzling about Tk. 2 crore 10 lakh of the money sent by the Emir of Kuwait for the trust during the discussed 1/11 government. Case filed. The charge sheet of the case was filed in 2009. From that year to 2014, the proceedings of the case were suspended by the order of the High Court, but later it gained momentum again.

The case was decided on February 8, 2018. In a 632-page verdict at Aliya Madrasa in Old Dhaka, Dhaka Special Judge Court Judge Dr. Aktaruzzaman sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to 5 years rigorous imprisonment. Later, the sentence was 10 years in the High Court. Then BNP leader Khaleda Zia had to go to jail in this Zia Orphanage Trust case.

Former National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Motiur Rahman and his wife, former upazila chairman Laila Kaniz, who were involved in the ‘goat’ scandal, have been arrested.

A team of DB police arrested them from the capital's Bashundhara area on Tuesday night.

DMP's Media and Public Relations Department Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed the matter. 

A terrible fire broke out in St. Martin, a coral island. No casualties have been reported so far in the incident. The island's residents say that the fire caused this great damage because there is no fire service on the island.

The incident took place in the Galachipa area of the island's west beach at 2:30 am on Tuesday (January 14).

The matter was confirmed by the chairman of the St. Martin Union Parishad, Mujibur Rahman.

He said that Shayari, Beach Valley and Kingshuk Resorts were burnt to ashes in a terrible fire in St. Martin at midnight. No tourists or locals were injured in the incident.

St. Martin resident Abdul Malek said that usually the island's waste is burned in the sand dunes, which could have caused this incident. This great damage was caused by the fire because there is no fire service on the island.