Khaleda Zia acquitted in five defamation cases

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been acquitted in five defamation cases for comments against Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, questioning the number of martyrs in the Liberation War and also for celebrating her birthday on a false date, all of which were filed against her under the Awami League government, reports bdnews24.com.

On Tuesday, Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Tofazzal Hossain made the decision in one case and Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mahabul Haque made the decision in four cases, all acquitting Khaleda Zia.

Jananetri Parishad President AB Siddique filed four defamation cases with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court from 2014 to 2017. Journalist Gazi Zahirul Islam filed the other defamation case.

Khaleda's lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukdar petitioned for her acquittal in all those cases.

"A review of documents showed that, as ordered by the learned Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Oct 3, 2018, the documents were forwarded to this court for settlement. Since then the plaintiff did not appear at the court. It seems the plaintiff had no interest in the case," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mahabul Haque said in his verdict.