Dhaka: After finding the opposition leader guilty in a corruption case launched by the government in 2007, a court in Bangladesh jailed former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's son and heir apparent to nine years in prison. The Dhaka metropolitan senior special judge’s court delivered the sentence in absentia to Tarique Rahman. He also gave a three-year sentence in absentia to Rahman’s wife Zubaida Rahman who also lives abroad.
Rahman is the acting chairman of the country's largest opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which has been protesting against Sheikh Hasina's continuance as the prime minister. Rahman was also penalised more than $273,000. He faces an additional three months in jail if the fine is not paid.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the secretary general of Zia’s party, said the verdict was politically motivated. The complaint was initiated in 2007 by the government's anti-corruption agency, which accused Rahman of amassing assets illegally.
The verdict came ahead of a general election expected to be held by early next year, with Hasina hoping to form government for a fourth consecutive term.