Govt asked to provide proper treatment to Khaleda

The High Court today directed the government to provide proper treatment, if necessary, to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in line with the recommendations from the medical board formed by the BSMMU.

The HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order after disposing of a writ petition filed by Khaleda Zia challenging the government decision to take her back to jail from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

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The BNP chief submitted the petition on November 11, seeking an HC order on the government to send her to a specialised hospital.

WHEN WAS KHALEDA TAKEN BACK TO JAIL? 

Khaleda was admitted to BSMMU on October 6 as per an earlier HC directive and taken back to jail on November 8. She was directly produced before a special court in old central jail in Niko graft case.

Khaleda was released from the BSMMU after the medical board formed for her treatment gave her discharge certificate, BSMMU Director Brig Gen Abdullah Al Harun said.

WHY IS KHALEDA IN JAIL?

Khaleda landed in the old central jail on February 8 after a special court sentenced her to five years' rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The High Court on October 30 enhanced the punishment of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to 10 years imprisonment in the case.

Besides, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was also convicted in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment by a special court on October 29.

WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HER?

Zia Orphanage Trust Case: The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the graft case with Ramna Police Station in Dhaka in July 2008, accusing Khaleda and five others of misappropriating over Tk 2.1 crore that had come from a foreign bank as grants for orphans.

According to the case document, then (1991-1996) prime minister Khaleda Zia opened an account named “Prime Minister's Orphanage Trust” with the Ramna branch of Sonali Bank.

On June 9, 1991, $126,000 (Tk 4,44,81,216) was deposited in the account from United Saudi Commercial Bank, but the money was not spent for any orphanage between June 9, 1991, and September 5, 1993, it said.

Zia Charitable Trust Graft Case: The ACC lodged the Zia charitable case against Khaleda and three others with Tejgaon Police Station on August 8, 2011.

According to the case statement, the former prime minister and three others abused their power and raised funds for the trust from unknown sources.

The court framed charges against Khaleda and the other three in the case on March 19, 2014. Judge Akhtaruzzaman in the verdict on October 29 said in mutual collaboration, the four accused realised over Tk 2.17 crore from unknown sources for establishing Zia Charitable Trust.

In a week starting from January 13, 2005, Tk 7.81 crore was deposited in the trust's bank account, but the money was not used for any charitable purpose, and even the purchased land was not mutated in the trust's name at the time of filing the case, said the court.

Khaleda, as the first managing trustee, opened the account with the PMO branch of Sonali Bank on January 1, 2005, and within a week from January 13, Tk 7.81 crore was deposited in the account in phases, said the judgement, adding, "The prosecution has been able to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt."