Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday said the court’s verdict in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case proved that none is above the law.

A Dhaka special court today sentenced BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to five-year imprisonment in the graft case. The court also sentenced five other accused, including her ‘fugitive’ elder son and BNP’s senior vice- chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10-year imprisonment each, reports the BSS.

Responding to media quarries on the verdict, the Law Minister said the judgment was a significant success in combating corruption in the country.

Asked about BNP’s allegation of conducting the trial hastily, Anisul Huq, who is also a lawyer, instantly ruled out the allegation, saying that there was no hurried move in dealing with the graft case.

Explaining the trial process of the case, he said the verdict was delivered after conducting a trial for more than nine years and allowing time to Khaleda Zia on numerous occasions so she can get enough time to defend her.

Regarding the change of Khaleda’s participation in the next national, the Law Minister said the Supreme Court and Election Commission (EC) will decide on the issue.