Four family members, including two siblings, met BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at old central jail in Nazimuddin road in the city on Friday afternoon.

Khaleda, a 73-year-old former prime minister, was taken to the jail on Thursday after a special court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, reports the UNB.

Around 3:35pm, Khaleda’s brother Shamim Iskander, sister Selima Islam, her sister-in-law Kaniz Fatema and nephew Fayek Iskander Avik arrived at the prison to meet her, said Jahangir Kabir, senior superintendent of the jail.

They entered the jail around 4:15pm to meet Khaleda Zia and left the jail around 5:11pm, he added.

A special court in Dhaka on Thursday convicted former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the much-talked-about Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman of special court-5 announced the verdict of the sensational case at a crowded courtroom in Bakshibazar of Dhaka’s old town on Thursday afternoon.

The court also handed down 10 years of imprisonment to five other accused including BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman and fined them with Tk 2 crore 10 lakh.

Khaleda Zia and two other accused, former lawmaker of Magura, Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, and Sharfuddin Ahmed, a businessman were present in the courtroom during the verdict.

Six people are accused in the case, among them three are absconding.

The fugitives are BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, former chief secretary of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Kamal Uddin Sidiqque, and BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman’s nephew Mominur Rahman.

Earlier on 25 January, Judge Akhtaruzzaman fixed the date for announcing the verdict after the defence had close their arguments.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK, and four others of misappropriating over 2.10 crore that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.