Bangladesh Crisis: Ex-PM And Hasina’s Bitter Rival Khaleda Zia Acquitted In 5 Cases

Dhaka: In a significant development in the Bangladesh politics amid the uncertain times, former prime minister Khaleda Zia has been acquitted in five separate cases, including one filed over allegations of celebrating a “fake birthday” and each other for supporting war criminals, as per a report by news agency PTI.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque’s court issued acquittal orders in four cases whereas Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain’s court acquitted her in a single case on Tuesday, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

The defendant, 79-year-old Bangladesh Nationalist Birthday party (BNP) chairperson Zia, changed into acquitted after the plaintiff did now now not appear in court. In August 2016, a case changed into filed against Zia by a journalist for celebrating a “fake birthday”.

The complaint alleged that though five different birthdates of Zia were found through reasonably some of sources, none changed into on August 15. It said that irrespective of this, she has been celebrating her birthday on August 15, which is the national mourning day commemorating the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman since 1996.

Cases Against Former PM Khaleda Zia

The complaint alleged that the BNP leader celebrates her birthday on at the present solely to tarnish the reputation of Bangabandhu and his family.

In November 2016, a case changed into filed by AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, against Zia for allegedly supporting war criminals. In January 2017, Siddique filed a defamation case accusing Zia, accusing her of slander regarding Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Awami League.

The case mentioned a speech delivered by Zia as the manager guest at the anniversary celebration of the Chhatra Dal in December 2016, wherein she allegedly said that Bangabandhu Rahman did now now not want Bangladesh’s independence but aspired to became the prime minister of undivided Pakistan. The complaint alleged that her statement changed into defamatory.

In January 2016, Siddique filed a case against Zia and BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy for derogatory comments in regards to the victims of the Liberation War.

In November 2016, the BNP chairperson changed into accused in every other defamation and threat of murder case filed by Siddique. Zia changed into below house arrest for the past five years and returned to her home from the health center as a free person following a presidential pardon last month.

(With inputs from agencies)