Khaleda Zia Acquitted in Five High-Profile Cases

Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, has been acquitted in five cases, including allegations of celebrating a “fake birthday” and supporting war criminals. The acquittals were due to the plaintiff's absence in court. Zia, who was under house arrest for five years, received a presidential pardon.

Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia has been acquitted in five separate cases, including an allegation of celebrating a "fake birthday" and supporting war criminals, according to a media report on Tuesday. The acquittals were issued by Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque's court in four cases and by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain's court in one case, reported The Dhaka Tribune.

Zia, 79, the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was acquitted as the plaintiff did not appear in court. In August 2016, a journalist filed a case against Zia, accusing her of celebrating a "fake birthday" on August 15, the day of national mourning for the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Another case was filed in November 2016 by AB Siddique, who accused Zia of supporting war criminals and defamation regarding Bangabandhu Rahman and the Awami League.

Further allegations included derogatory comments about Liberation War victims and a dispute over Zia's political statements. Zia was under house arrest for five years until she received a presidential pardon last month. Following the fall of her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5, Zia was acquitted of all charges and returned home from the hospital.

(With inputs from agencies.)