The Appellate Division acquitted BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Tariq Rahman in the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) case for embezzling more than Tk 2 crore from abroad for the orphans of Zia Orphanage Trust. After the hearing of the appeal against the cancellation of the sentence in this case, a bench of 5 judges led by Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed announced this verdict unanimously.
In the verdict, the court said that all the appeals were unanimously approved. Along with that, the judgment of the High Court and the trial court was cancelled. As the charges against the accused were not proved, they were acquitted. The case was deemed 'malicious'. This judgment will also apply to those who did not appeal.
As a result of this decision, all those convicted regained their dignity and their innocence was re-established. Besides, unwanted activities against them will end.
Senior lawyer Zainul Abedin, Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Badruddoza Badal and Barrister Qaiser Kamal heard on behalf of Khaleda Zia. Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal appeared for Sharfuddin. Senior lawyer SM Shahjahan heard on behalf of Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal. Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rauf and Aneek R Haque appeared for the state. Lawyer Asif Hasan appeared for the ACC.
Zainul Abedin said after the verdict that the case had 'no substance'. There was no conviction material in this case. In that case, the High Court Division made 5 years to 10 years — it is very sad. There was no judicial system then. As the fascist government used to say. That was the verdict. Today it seems that the Judiciary has acted independently. This prosecution was malicious; It was a malicious and vindictive case.
Barrister Kaiser Kamal said this case was Sheikh Hasina's personal grudge. She (Sheikh Hasina) used to lie in Parliament. He used to say that he (Khaleda Zia) killed and ate the orphan's money. Khaleda Zia was proved innocent in this verdict. Today proved that injustice was done to Khaleda Zia-Tareq Rahman.
ACC lawyer Asif Hasan said that there were a total of four appeals. The Appellate Division granted all four. The judgment of the High Court and the trial court has been annulled. Those who could not appeal were also acquitted. The court called the whole case 'malicious prosecution'.
He said, 'I will tell the verdict to the ACC. Later action will be taken according to the decision of the commission.'
On February 8, 2018, the judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 established in Bakshibazar. Akhtaruzzaman Zia sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years in prison in the Orphanage Trust case. At the same time, the court sentenced BNP Acting Chairman Tarek Rahman, former Magura MP Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former Chief Secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Ziaur Rahman's nephew Mominur Rahman to 10 years in prison.
Later, Khaleda Zia appealed to the High Court against the verdict. On the other hand, the ACC applied to increase Khaleda's sentence. After hearing both appeals, the High Court increased the sentence to 10 years on October 30 of the same year.
ACC filed this case on July 3, 2008 on the allegation of embezzlement of Tk 2 crore 10 lakh 71 thousand 671 sent from abroad for the purpose of supporting orphans.
