Why should Khaleda’s jail sentence not be enhanced: HC

The High Court today issued a rule asking BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and the government to explain why the jail sentence of Khaleda in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case should not be enhanced.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim came up with the rule after hearing a revision petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission seeking enhancement of Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence.

The court said the rule will be heard along with the appeal filed by Khaleda Zia challenging the lower court verdict that convicted and sentenced her to five years imprisonment in this case.

The ACC filed the revision petition with the HC challenging the trial court verdict on Khaleda Zia in this case saying it was an inadequate sentence handed by the lower court.

The commission said in the petition that the five other accused of the same case have been convicted and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.

But, the lower court sentenced Khaleda, who is the principle accused of the case, to five years’ imprisonment which is inadequate, the ACC said in the petition.

The commission prayed to the HC to enhance the sentence of Khaleda in the case.

On February 8, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was handed a five-year rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

Her eldest son and BNP’s Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and four others were also given 10 years’ imprisonment in the case and a fine of Tk 2.10 crore each in the politically significant case ahead of the parliamentary election.