Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ...
to five years in jail on Thursday after convicting the two-time former premier of embezzling money meant for an orphanage.
Judge Mohammad Akhteruzzaman convicted Zia and sentenced her to five years in jail in a crowded courtroom, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. Following the sentence, Zia was taken to a Dhaka prison under heavy security.
The conviction means that Zia, the archrival of the current prime minister, could be barred from running in December national elections.
Defense lawyer Mahbubuddin Khokan said Zia had ordered him to appeal against the decision. "This is unbelievable," he said. "I am confident she will come out of jail."
Violent festivities broke out between security forces and protesters in the Bangladesh capital ahead of the verdict.
Police fired tear gas at thousands of opposition activists who defied heavy security to escort the car taking Zia, a two-time former prime minister, to a Dhaka court for the verdict.
The private television station Somoy said at least five coppers had been injured and two cycle of violences torched during the festivities that broke out several kilometres from the court premises.