The High Court (HC) has extended BNP chief Khaleda Zia's jail term to 10 years from five years in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

The bench of justices M Enayetur Rahim and Md. Mostafizur Rahman passed the order on Tuesday (Oct 30).

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Md Khurshid Alam Khan represented the State and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) respectively while there were no counsels present for the BNP chief.

The court also upheld the 10 years' imprisonment handed to two other convicts in the caseKazi Salimul Haque and Sharfuddin Ahmed.

The HC bench delivered the verdict on Tuesday after accepting a revision plea filed by the ACC which sought an extension of Khaleda's jail term. 



On Oct 29, the same bench fixed Oct 30 to announce its decision on the former premier's appeal against lower court’s verdict in the case.

On Feb 8, Special Judge-5 Dr Akhtaruzzaman sentenced former prime minister Khaleda to five years in jail after finding her guilty of embezzling foreign donations made to the Zia Orphanage Trust.