After the prison authorities informed BNP chief Khaleda Zia of conviction in Zia Charitable Trust graft case by the trial court and the High Court’s decision to raise her jail term in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, the former prime minister only smiled and said nothing, according to sources.
On Monday, the court of Dhaka Special Judge-5 sentenced her to seven years in prison for embezzling Tk 31.54 million from the Zia Charitable Trust.
On Tuesday, the High Court scaled up her jail term to 10 years in the Zia Orphanage Trust Graft case.
In February this year, Dhaka Special Judge-5 Md Akhtaruzzaman jailed Khaleda for five years.
The prison authorities informed her of the courts’ verdicts soon after it was delivered on Monday and Tuesday.
“According to the rules, we have informed her of the court’s decision after it was announced. Two female deputy jailers informed her soon after the verdicts were given on Monday and Tuesday,” Dhaka Central Jail’s Jailer Mahbubul Islam told Bangla Tribune.
He, however, declined to comment on the BNP chief’s reactions upon hearing the court’s decision.
Sources confirmed Bangla Tribune that the three-time prime minister said nothing after hearing the court’s decision, but only smiled.
Soon after the Orphanage Trust graft case verdict was announced, Khaleda was taken to the old jailhouse on Dhaka’s Nazimuddin Road, where she was serving her term as the lone prisoner.
On Oct 6, she was admitted to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital following a High Court order.