A similar jail term was handed down to four of her aides.Zia, 72, denies misusing international funds donated to the charitable children's trust. The sentence means she is barred from parliamentary polls due this year. She said the charges were "politically motivated".The case is one of dozens pending against Zia, who has been a rival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for decades. "Since the court has been able to prove the charges against her and considering her social and physical status, Zia has been sentenced to five years in jail," the judge said.Traffic was thrown out of gear and shops closed as security forces took Zia to jail after the verdict. Prosecution sources told the Daily Star newspaper that Zia will be kept at the old Dhaka Central Jail.

Source: bd News24 February 08, 2018 11:26 UTC