BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been acquitted of 5 defamation cases. The judge of the CMM Court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka announced the verdict on Tuesday (3 September) morning.

The court of Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque ordered the acquittal of Khaleda Zia in 4 cases. Besides, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain's court acquitted him in 1 case.

The cases were for hearing today. However, the plaintiffs in the case did not appear in court. AB Siddique, the plaintiff in some of the cases, has died. In this situation, Khaleda Zia's lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder, Syed Zainal Abedin Mejbah requested to be released from the case. Later the court acquitted him from the cases.

BNP chief's lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukdar filed a plea for acquittal in a total of 5 cases.

Masud Ahmed said, "The plaintiffs never came to the court. The plaintiff died four years ago. Still, the cases against Khaleda Zia were not closed. The cases were hung due to the government's influence, he alleged.

Khaleda Zia has several defamation cases against her, including 2 cases of false birthday celebrations and supporting war criminals. Former Joint General Secretary of Dhaka Journalist Union Gazi Zahirul Islam filed the case against Khaleda Zia on August 30, 2016 for celebrating her fake birthday.

Apart from this, a defamation case was filed in the court against Khaleda Zia for defaming the country's map and national flag by hoisting the national flag on the car of the identified anti-independence activists. Jannetri Parishad President AB Siddiqui filed the case on November 3, 2016.