Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia sentenced to Jail

Dhaka Feb 9: In a major development a Special Judge's Court in Dhaka has sentenced Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for five years on Thursday after being found guilty in a corruption case.

The court also awarded 10-year-sentences to Tarique Rahman — Ms. Zia's son and the party's exiled vice-chairman — and four others.

Sources said that "She was charged with misappropriating Tk 21 million in foreign donations received by the
'Zia Orphanage Trust'.She was given a shorter term, considering her health and social status".

Khandker Mahbub Hossain the leader of Ms. Zia's legal team has said that "We didn't get justice. We'll go to the higher court."
Sources said that "the conviction means Ms. Zia, a longtime rival of the current Prime Minister, could be barred from running in the December national elections."