The Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, Begum Khaleda Zia, was acquitted in five defamation cases lodged against her in various charges on Tuesday.

Begum Zia’s lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder confirmed the matter.

He said, ‘The court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque ordered to acquit her in four cases. Also, she was acquitted in another defamation case in the court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain this morning.’

‘Today was scheduled for hearing the charges against her in these cases. As the plaintiffs were absent, we filed an application for acquittal. The court granted the application and acquitted Khaleda Zia from these cases,’ he added.

Late AB Siddiqui, former president of an organisation called ‘Jananetri Parishad’, filed multiple defamation cases against Begum Zia.

Plaintiffs of other cases, however, did not appear in the court, and so the defendant’s lawyer pleaded for acquittal.