All the accused in the case, excluding Sharfuddin, were public servants, and they were involved in misappropriating the public money, it added. The court regarded Salimul as public servant also because he was the chairman and director of a bank (Prime Bank Ltd) then. Kamal was a public servant because he was the principal secretary to Khaleda during her first stint (1991-1996) as prime minister. The court said Khaleda should have awarded the money to orphans living in any state-run or government-approved orphanage. The judge said the Zia Orphanage Trust existed only in name.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 22, 2018 19:52 UTC