Online Desk  :   BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been acquitted from five defamation cases filed against her during the last Awami League tenure over derogatory remarks about Liberation War, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Three separate courts in Dhaka dismissed the cases and relieved the BNP chairperson of the charges on Tuesday as the complainants were absent for several dates without taking any steps. Second Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mahbubul Haque dismissed three defamation cases filed over undermining the national flag and observing a “fake birthday” on 15 August.

One of the cases was filed by AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, with a Dhaka court on 3 November, 2016. The second case accusing Khaleda of celebrating her “fake birthday” on 15 August, the National Mourning Day, was filed by Gazi Zahirul Islam, former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists, with another Dhaka court on 30 August, 2016.

Third Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Tofazzal Hossain dismissed another case as the complainant was absent today without taking any steps. The case was filed on January 5 of 2016 against Khaleda and the party’s senior leader Goyeshwar Chandra Roy for demeaning Liberation War martyrs. AB Siddique, president of Jananetri Parishad, filed the case against them.