The government did not interfere with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's punishment, Law Minister Anisul Huq has said.
"Khaleda Zia was sentenced to jail by a lower court, for stealing orphans' money from the Zia Orphanage Trust," he said while laying the foundation stone of a healthcare office in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria, on Friday morning.
The BNP chief was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on February 8, 2018, in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust case. The High Court later doubled her sentence based on a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
"When she appealed against the sentence to the High Court, the court extended her punishment from five years to 10 years," Anisul said. "I do not see how the government had anything to do with it."
The minister claimed such corrupted individuals could only be punished due to the prevalence of the rule of law. "However, I can say with absolute certainty, the country did not have the rule of law during BNP's regime. The judicial system became independent the day Sheikh Hasina came to power."
Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria Hayat-ud-Daula Khan, Chairman of Kasba upazila Rashedul Kawsar Bhuiyan Jibon, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Hasina Islam, and others, were present with the minister.
