Dhaka: The Appellate Division has acquitted BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust case.
The Appellate Division headed by Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam gave the order on Monday (March 3) morning.
On February 23, the state and the Anti-Corruption Commission appealed to the Appellate Division against the verdict acquitting BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from a 7-year sentence in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. Later, the court fixed March 2 for the hearing. However, the court postponed the hearing to March 3 on the ACC's application.
Earlier, the High Court acquitted her from a 7-year sentence in this case on November 27.
It is worth noting that in October 2018, the court had sentenced Begum Khaleda Zia to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. The court also sentenced the other three accused to the same term of imprisonment. They were also fined Tk. 10 lakh each and ordered to confiscate 42 kathas of land in Kakrail purchased in the name of a trust and transfer it to the state. Begum Khaleda Zia later appealed against this verdict.