Khaleda Zia acquitted in 5 defamation cases

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been acquitted in five defamation cases.

Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain acquitted her in four cases while Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque acquitted her in one case.

AB Siddique, president of the Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-AL organization, filed four cases against the BNP Chairperson, while Gazi Jahirul Islam, the former Joint General Secretary of the Dhaka Journalist Union, filed one case. 

Khaleda’s lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder confirmed the matter.

He stated that the plaintiff in these cases had not appeared in court for an extended period. According to the relevant legal provision, if the plaintiff fails to appear in court for a prolonged time, the defendant has the right to request the withdrawal of the case. Given the plaintiff’s extended absence, a request was made to withdraw the case. The court granted this request and acquitted Khaleda Zia.