Ex-Bangla PM gets 5 yrs RI

Bangladesh's ex-premier Khaleda Zia was on Thursday sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment(RI) for corruption, a huge setback for the 72-year-old main opposition leader who may be barred from contesting the next general election in December.

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

The verdict simultaneously sentenced Zia's "fugitive" elder son and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP's) senior vice president Tarique Rahman as he was tried in absentia in the Zia Orphanage Trust case. Rahman and four others have been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman, while delivering the judgement, said: "The case was proved beyond any doubt against the accused". Zia, wearing a white sari, appeared in person in the heavily-guarded courtroom amid heightened political tension. Sentencing Zia to rigorous imprisonment, the judge said that the shorter term was for "her health and social status".

The judge read out the abridged version of the 632page verdict in 10 minutes while several BNP leaders were present in the courtroom. He said that all the convicts played identical role in the crime but Zia was given a lesser term taking into account her "age and social status". The court also said that the defence tried their best to hinder the trial proceedings as they sought time for 35 occasions in the name of changing the court.

The other convicts are former lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, ex-premier's principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and her nephew Mominur Rahman.