DHAKA: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia reached the special court in Dhaka’s Bakshibazar, to hear the verdict against her in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case Thursday (February 8).

The BNP Chief’s motorcade reached at the court installed in prison department’s parade ground in Bakshibazar at around 1:45pm. 

Thousands of BNP activists flocked to the street, to accompany the motorcade of Khaleda Zia. As the motorcade reached Tejgaon Satrasta area, the crowd turns huge.

Clash between police and the BNP activists in several phases were reported as Khaleda’s motorcade crosses Hatirjheel crossing.

Some of the leaders and activists were chanting slogans, supporting their party chief.

Police opened fire in air as the BNP activists were vandalizing and torching motorcycles in Kakrail. BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain were seen heading towards the court on foot.   

Earlier, Khaleda left her Gulshan residence at around 11:45am, to appear before the court.

Special Court-5 of Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman is set to deliver the verdict against the BNP Chief and five others on corruption charges over misappropriating Tk 2.1 crore. 

Earlier on January 25, the same court fixed Thursday for delivering verdict. 

In July 2008, the ACC filed the case accusing Khaleda, her son BNP's senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore grant money for orphans.

The four other accused are--then BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque, Ziaur Rahman's nephew Mominur Rahman, former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed.

Of them, Khaleda is now on bail while Salimul and Sharfuddin are in jail. Tarique and Mominur and Kamal have been absconding.

This is first time that any former prime minister of Bangladesh is getting verdict in a corruption case. 

BDST: 1404 HRS, FEB 8, 2018
SI