Khaleda Zia jailed for five years on corruption charge

Police charge towards activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party protesting following a verdict against Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Pic/AFP

Khaleda Zia was on Thursday sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment for corruption, a body blow for the ex-Bangladeshi prime minister and main opposition leader, who may be disqualified from contesting the next general elections.

The 72-year-old three-time former PM was sentenced by Dhaka's Special Court in connection with the embezzlement of 21 million taka (about $250,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust, named after her late husband Ziaur Rahman.

The verdict simultaneously sentenced Zia's "fugitive" elder son and BNP's senior vice president Tarique Rahman, as he was tried in absentia. Rahman and four others have been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Agencies

21mn
Amount (in taka) of foreign donations Zia had embezzled

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