Khaleda Zia acquitted in 5 cases

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been acquitted in five separate defamation cases, including one filed for celebrating a “fake birthday” based on false information and another for supporting war criminals.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque’s court issued acquittal orders in four cases, while Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain’s court acquitted her in one case on Tuesday (September 3).

The courts dismissed all the cases and relieved the BNP chairperson of the charges today as the complainants were absent for several dates without taking any steps.

One of the cases was filed by AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, with a Dhaka court on 3 November, 2016.

The second case accusing Khaleda of celebrating her “fake birthday” on 15 August, the National Mourning Day, was filed by Gazi Zahirul Islam, former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists, with another Dhaka court on 30 August, 2016.

Another case was filed on January 5 of 2016 against Khaleda and the party’s senior leader Goyeshwar Chandra Roy for demeaning Liberation War martyrs.

AB Siddique, president of Jananetri Parishad, filed the case against them.