Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday rejected the allegation raised by various quarters that the authorities are deliberately making delays in issuing the certified copy of the verdict in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case that sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to 5 years in prison. ে“Khaleda Zia’s lawyers are lying. They will get the copy within a timeframe which is reasonable for typing the 632-page verdict. It will not be delayed even by one minute and the government won’t interfere in it,” said the law minister while talking to reporters in Brahmanbaria after attending a programme organised by local Awami League and its associate organizations. The verdict was handed down on 8 February and Khaleda Zia was taken to prison following the court order. Khaleda Zia’s counsels need the certified copy of the verdict to file an appeal with the high court.

Dismissing as baseless the rumours that Khaleda was shown arrested in other cases, the law minister said the BNP chief has been shown arrested in no other cases. “And she won’t be shown arrest in any more cases,” he added.