After BNP chief Khaleda Zia was jailed for five years, Law Minister Anisul Huq said it depends on the Supreme Court decision whether she can contest the next election.
The Minister on Thursday said the court's verdict in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case proved that none is above the law.
The court also sentenced five other accused, including her 'fugitive' elder son and BNP's senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10-year imprisonment each.
Responding to media quarries on the verdict, the Law Minister said the judgment was a significant success in combating corruption in the country.
Asked about BNP's allegation of conducting the trial hastily, Anisul Huq, who is also a lawyer, instantly ruled out the allegation, saying that there was no hurried move in dealing with the graft case.
Explaining the trial process of the case, he said the verdict was delivered after conducting a trial for more than nine years and allowing time to Khaleda Zia on numerous occasions so she can get enough time to defend her, according to BSS.
Regarding the change of Khaleda's participation in the next national, the Law Minister said the Supreme Court and Election Commission (EC) will decide on the issue.
