Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has cleared former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia of charges in a 2008 corruption case, allowing the ailing leader to take part in upcoming parliamentary elections.
This ruling marks another legal triumph for Khaleda and her family, who are key players in the nation’s political landscape.
A five-judge panel, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, overturned the prison sentences imposed by the High Court in 2018 on Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman, and others involved in the case.
The allegations, stemming from 2008, claimed that Khaleda and her associates embezzled 21 million taka (approximately $173,000) in foreign donations intended for an orphanage trust established during her tenure as prime minister from 2001 to 2006.
Defense attorney Zainul Abedin remarked on the verdict, stating, “The case was so egregious that all parties involved, whether they appealed or not, have been acquitted.”
In November, the 79-year-old Khaleda was also exonerated in a separate corruption case involving the misappropriation of 31.5 million taka from another trust in 2005.
Recently, Khaleda, who has been facing serious health challenges including liver cirrhosis and heart issues, was transported to London for medical care.
In December 2024, the High Court had previously acquitted Rahman and others in connection with a 2004 grenade attack during a rally in Hasina.
Rahman serves as the acting chairperson of Khaleda’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and has been living in exile in London.
Since August, Bangladesh has been under the governance of an interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.
The BNP is advocating for general elections to be conducted by August, emphasizing the need for stability amid rising political and economic turmoil.
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