Clashes erupt in Bangladesh as ex-PM Khaleda Zia is jailed

Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh was led away to jail amid protests and high security a little after the verdict was announced by the court in Dhaka sentencing her to five years imprisonment in a graft case. The verdict was announced by a Special Court-5 in the capital, Dhaka in connection with embezzlement of 21 million takas (USD 252,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust.

The charges against her had already led to her boycotting elections in 2014, which triggered widespread protests at the time.

The case is one of about dozen cases pending against her. Zia's son Tarique Rahman was given 10 years in jail in the same case. He is presently in London. The same jail term was handed down to four of Zia's aides.

Experts believe, now that she has been convicted, Zia will have to stay in jail for at least three days until Sunday. If her lawyers apply for a certified copy of the verdict on Thursday and if they get the copy on the same day, they may not be able to file the appeal with the High Court on the same day, according to PTI.

The verdict was read out in the court after police used tear gas to disperse thousands of her supporters. Several police officers were also injured in the violence, as BBC reported.

The 72-year-old leader may be barred from parliamentary polls due later this year because of the jail sentence.

There was heightened security across the capital and other cities. Many shops and schools were shut. According to Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), hundreds of its supporters were arrested in the run-up to the verdict, BBC reported.

As she left her Gulshan residence, Feroza, many of her relatives broke down in tears, Bangladeshi media reported. "There is no need to cry. I will be alright. You all wait, I will be back. Do not worry and be strong," Khaleda said while trying to comfort her weeping relatives.