The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has acquitted former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and others in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, overturning the previous rulings of the High Court and lower courts. The verdict, delivered on January 15 by a five-member bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, stated that there was no evidence of wrongdoing in the case. Following this decision, BNP-aligned lawyer Fahima Nasreen confirmed that Khaleda Zia would face no legal hindrance in participating in future national elections.

The case stemmed from allegations of embezzlement of over 21 million Bangladeshi Taka, which was sent from abroad to help orphaned children. In 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed charges against Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman, and four others for misusing their power to misappropriate the funds.

In 2018, a special court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years in prison, and Tarique Rahman, along with four other individuals, to ten years in prison, in connection with the case. The verdict was appealed, and in October 2018, the High Court increased Khaleda Zia's sentence by an additional ten years, following the dismissal of her appeal against the original verdict. In March 2019, Khaleda Zia sought permission to appeal further, and on November 11, 2022, the Supreme Court granted her the right to appeal, suspending the execution of her sentence.

Subsequent hearings, including the appeals of other individuals involved in the case, culminated in the January 15 ruling, where the court concluded there was insufficient evidence to convict any of the accused.

The case had been a point of contention in Bangladeshi politics, particularly as Khaleda Zia’s legal troubles prevented her from actively participating in the political sphere. Following today's verdict, her legal team believes there are no further obstacles to her running in the next national elections.

The case and its verdicts have had significant political and legal implications, with the ruling impacting the future of Khaleda Zia’s political career and the overall political landscape in Bangladesh.