Continuing the stream of relief granted to Khaleda Zia since the govt change in Bangladesh, a Dhaka court on Wednesday acquitted the BNP chairperson, along with seven others, in the Niko graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2007.
With this verdict, Khaleda has now been acquitted of all corruption cases filed against her, including those related to the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust, during the caretaker govt in 2007 and the subsequent Awami League-led govt. Notably, all the acquittals were made after Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim govt after Sheikh Hasina’s govt was overthrown by violent student-led protests.
The verdict also clears her path to enter elections, likely in Dec, with a clean slate. She is in London for medical treatment.
Judge Md Rabiul Alam delivered the ruling, stating that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against Khaleda and the other accused; hence, all were acquitted. The ACC originally filed the case on Dec 9, 2007, alleging that Khaleda and others had abused their power to grant Niko, a Canadian oil and gas exploration company, an illegal deal while she was PM from 2001 to 2006. Charges were officially pressed on May 5, 2008, against Khaleda and 10 others.