Conviction of Khaleda a big message: TIB

Conviction and sentencing of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in a graft case gives a “big message” but one or two such incident is not enough, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh said today.

Iftekharuzzaman said this while disclosing the findings of the Corruption Perceptions Index-2017 of Transparency International at a press conference at TIB’s Dhanmondi office.

On February 8, Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka found BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia guilty in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and sentenced her to five years in rigorous imprisonment.

Responding to a query whether Khaleda’s conviction had any impact on Bangladesh’s ranking in world corruption perceptions index, Iftekharuzzaman said the surveys for preparing index were done before the pronouncement of the verdict.

“If it has any impact, it may surface in next year’s index and that would be appropriate because it [case] is still in lower stage [of judiciary],” he said. “However, one or two such incidents are not enough. This [Khaleda’s conviction] is definitely a big message…,” he said.

“It is not that a court would take position on the basis of a person’s identity or status. If that is being done, then this will have a boomerang effect which will not bring any positive result,” he said.