BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed said BNP chief Khaleda Zia will file an appeal on Sunday against the verdict that has jailed her in Zia Orphanage Trust case, if her lawyers can manage a certified copy of the judgment.

Talking to the reporters at a press briefing at BNP office in Nayapaltan, Moudud said ‘We are trying our best to collect the certified and authenticated copy of the verdict. Our lawyers are still waiting at the court and they will be waiting until they get it. We will file an appeal against the verdict and will seek bail for her, if we get the copy today.’

‘The judgement was given violating the constitution. We think the verdict was neither lawful nor based on the document. The government’s political vengeance has been reflected in the verdict’, he added, reports the UNB.

As the journalist drew Modud’s attention to Law Minister’s comment that ‘Khaleda will not be able to take part in the national polls until the case is dissolved’, he said ‘It is not the Law Minster but the Supreme Court will decide over it, we think there is no barrier for Khaleda Zia to get bail and participate in the upcoming national elections after the lower court’s conviction.’

Amid heightening tensions and various speculations, a special court here in the morning convicted the former prime minister and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the much-talked-about Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Five other accused in the case, including her son and BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment each. The court also fined the five accused Tk. 2.10 crore each.