Hours after a Dhaka court sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, Awami League Publicity and Publication Affairs Secretary Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said they would not make any comment on the verdict.
"The verdict against Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case is a concern of the court, and we have nothing to say in this regard," he told a press briefing in Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi office in Dhaka.
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Hasan, also the Awami League’s spokesman, said: "This verdict has proved that our judiciary is free and independent."
No one is above the law, he added.
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Judge Dr Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka’s Fifth Special Judge Court delivered the judgment at the heavily guarded crowded courtroom 14 days after it set the date to pass the verdict wrapping up the trial process.
The same court also sentenced five other accused, including Khaleda’s son and BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10 years’ imprisonment each and fined them a total of Tk2.10 crore.
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The 72-year old former prime minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda claimed that the case filed against her was a “politically motivated” one, and she denied misusing international funds donated to the charitable trust.
Her lawyers said they had requested for a certified copy of the verdict so they can appeal to the High Court, challenging the lower court’s verdict.