Khaleda Zia

What Is the Case About?

• The case involves allegations that Khaleda Zia (former PM of Bangladesh) and others misused funds raised for the Zia Charitable Trust.


• The prosecution claimed they "abused power to raise funds … from unknown sources."


• According to the 2018 court verdict, around Tk 2.17 crore (about 21.7 million taka) was collected from unknown sources.


• There were also alleged irregularities in how over Tk 1.24 crore was spent, particularly in the purchase of land in the trust’s name.


• The judgement said money was deposited into a Sonali Bank account (Prime Minister’s Office branch) in January 2005.


• The court also criticized that while a huge sum was deposited, the land purchased was not properly mutated in the trust’s name at the time of filing the case.

Legal Timeline

• The Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on 8 August 2011 with Tejgaon Police Station.


• Charges were framed on 19 March 2014.


• On 29 October 2018, a Special Court (Court‑5) sentenced Khaleda Zia to 7 years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined her Tk 10 lakh (1 million Taka).


• The court said if the fine wasn’t paid, there would be an extra 6 months in jail.


• On 27 November 2024, the High Court acquitted Khaleda Zia, scrapping her 7-year sentence.


• On 3 March 2025, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division upheld that High Court acquittal, rejecting the ACC’s appeal.

Significance & Observations

• The case was politically significant because Khaleda Zia is a major political figure (BNP leader), and such corruption cases have strong political overtones.


• Her legal team argued that the trust was private, run on its own funds, and no state money was involved.


• With the Supreme Court’s decision, her 7-year sentence was fully overturned.


• The ACC and the prosecution had challenged her acquittal, but their leave-to-appeal was rejected by the SC.

1. Background & Allegations
   
   
   
   • The case revolves around alleged misappropriation of funds that were meant for orphans.
   
   
   • According to the Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC), more than Tk 2.10 crore (Bangladeshi taka) - roughly funds from foreign grants - were misused.
   
   
   • The trust was named Zia Orphanage Trust, linked to the Zia family: former PM Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman, and others were accused.
   
   
   • In the court’s earlier (verdict) assessment, it was stated that: at the time when a grant came (in the early 1990s), there was no actual trust. The orphanage trust was later “created” on paper; the money stayed idle in a bank before being partially moved into the trust.
   
   
   • The court claimed that only a small piece of land (2.79 acres) was bought for the orphanage, suggesting the rest of the money might not have been used for orphans.
   
   
   • Under Bangladeshi law (Penal Code, Section 409), misuse of entrusted public money is a criminal offense; the lower court judged that Khaleda Zia had “entrustment and dominion” over these orphanage funds and was culpable.
   
   
   
   


2. Legal Timeline
   
   
   
   • The ACC filed the case in July 2008, accusing Zia family members and associates.
   
   
   • On 8 February 2018, a Special Judge’s Court (Dhaka) sentenced Khaleda Zia to 5 years’ imprisonment.
   
   
   • Other accused - including her son Tarique Rahman, Salimul Haque Kamal (former MP), Sharfuddin Ahmed, Mominur Rahman, Kamal Uddin Siddique - got 10 years each, according to that verdict.
   
   
   • A fine of Tk 2.10 crore was imposed on the convicts.
   
   
   • On 30 October 2018, the High Court increased Khaleda’s sentence from 5 years to 10 years.
   
   
   • However, on 11 November 2024, the Supreme Court (Appellate Division) stayed that 10-year sentence, allowing her to appeal.
   
   
   • On 15 January 2025, the Supreme Court (a 5‑judge bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed) acquitted Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, and all other accused.
   
   
   • In its final verdict, the Court said the case was “vindictive” and "motivated," and that the trial was “entirely flawed.”
   
   
   • The Chief Justice also noted that one of the purposes of the case seemed to be to publicly humiliate Khaleda Zia.
   
   
   
   

What Is the Barapukuria Coal Mine Graft Case?

• The case alleges that Khaleda Zia (former PM) and other politicians and officials caused a large financial loss to the state by misusing their power in awarding a contract for the Barapukuria Coal Mine to a Chinese company.


• The claimed loss to the exchequer is about Tk 159 crore.


• It involves corruption in coal mining operations, contract awarding, and abuse of power.

Timeline / Key Legal Developments

1. Initial Filing:
   
   
   
   • The Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on 26 February 2008 with Shahbagh Police Station.
   
   
   • A charge sheet was submitted later on 5 October 2008 by ACC Deputy Director Md Abul Kashem Fokir.
   
   
   
   


2. Indictment / Charge‑Framing:
   
   
   
   • The court began indictment / charge‑framing hearings on 8 August 2023.
   
   
   • There was a scheduled hearing for 28 May (year not clearly stated in some sources) for framing charges.
   
   
   • However, as of a more recent update, charge framing was deferred again.
   
   
   
   


3. Discharge of Some Accused:
   
   
   
   • On 27 November 2024, a Dhaka court discharged Khaleda Zia, along with two former ministers (Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain) from the case.
   
   
   • The court did frame charges, however, against Moajjem Hossain, Nazrul Islam, Moinul Ahsan, and Md Sirajul Islam Chowdhury to initiate trial for them.
   
   
   
   


4. High Court Stay:
   
   
   
   • The High Court later ordered a six-month stay on all proceedings in the case, following a writ petition.
   
   
   • The stay was granted by a bench of Justices Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman and Shawkat Ali Chowdhury.
   
   
   
   


5. Calls for Speedy Disposal:
   
   
   
   • Previously, the High Court had ordered that the case be disposed of within six months, showing the pressure to resolve it.
   
   
   
   

Major Accused

• Khaleda Zia - Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson.


• Altaf Hossain Chowdhury - Former Air Vice‑Marshal and minister.


• Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain - Former minister.


• Moajjem Hossain, Nazrul Islam, Moinul Ahsan, Md Sirajul Islam Chowdhury - Among those who remain in the trial.


• Some accused (like Matiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed) are no longer part of the trial due to their execution on different grounds (war crimes)

What Is the Niko Graft Case?

• It centers on allegations that Khaleda Zia and others misused state power to sign a gas‑exploration / extraction deal with the Canadian company Niko Resources.


• The Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC) said the deal caused massive financial loss to the state.


• According to the ACC’s claim, the loss was about Tk 13,777 crore.


• There were also procedural problems: the court later observed that the agreement in question dated back to a time when Sheikh Hasina was in power, not Khaleda.


• During the investigation/trial, the court allowed testimony from an FBI agent and two Canadian RCMP officers.

Timeline / Key Legal Events

• 9 December 2007: ACC filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station.


• 5 May 2008: ACC formally pressed charges against 11 individuals, including Khaleda Zia.


• 19 March 2023: Charges (framing) were made for 8 or more accused, including Khaleda.


• 23 May 2023: Trial resumed after a long delay (15 years) per a court order.


• 19 February 2025: Verdict delivered - Khaleda Zia and seven others were acquitted.


• 2 March 2025: Full judgment (133 pages) released; the court stated the case was meant to "tarnish her reputation."