The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has set March 2 for the hearing of an appeal against the High Court’s acquittal of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
A bench led by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam passed the order on Sunday.
In court, Advocate Asif Hossain represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), while Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R Haque appeared for the state.
Khaleda Zia was represented by Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal, and Advocate Maqsood Ullah.
On November 27, 2024, the High Court acquitted Khaleda Zia of her seven-year prison sentence in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case, following an appeal. The verdict was delivered by a bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain.
Previously, on October 29, 2018, Dhaka Special Court-5 sentenced Khaleda Zia to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in the same case. The verdict also included a Tk10 lakh fine, with an additional six months of imprisonment in case of non-payment.
Following her conviction, Khaleda Zia was taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital for medical treatment on October 6, 2018, and April 1, 2019, while in custody. She was moved back and forth between prison and the hospital multiple times.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Khaleda Zia's family appealed for her release on humanitarian grounds. In response, the government suspended her sentence multiple times, allowing her to remain out of prison on conditions.
