In a landmark verdict, a Bangladesh court has sentenced Tarique Rahman, the fugitive acting chairman of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to nine years in jail. His wife, Zubaida Rahman, has also been sentenced to three years for accumulating wealth beyond their declared income. The couple was found guilty of amassing illegal wealth and concealing information about their wealth.

The court ruling came after the couple's trial in absentia, as they have been living in London since 2008. Rahman, who is the eldest son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has also been fined Taka 3 crore (approximately $2.7 million USD), with an additional three-month prison term if he fails to pay. Zubaida Rahman has been fined Tk 45 lakhs (approximately $411k USD), with an additional one-month prison term if she fails to pay. This case was filed against the couple by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2007, during a time when a military-backed caretaker government was running the country.

Rahman was charged with illegally earning wealth over Tk 4.82 crore and concealing information about properties worth over Tk 4.23 crore. Zubaida, a professional doctor, was accused of aiding her husband in establishing that the money was earned legally. The judgment comes at a time of heightened political tensions in Bangladesh, with the upcoming general elections later this year. The BNP, the main opposition party, is demanding a caretaker government to conduct the polls, claiming that voting under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership would be rigged.

The ruling Awami League, in power since 2008, has rejected this demand, considering it unconstitutional. Both parties have been holding street demonstrations in recent weeks to showcase their strength. Last week, they held grand rallies that drew tens of thousands of activists to the capital, Dhaka, simultaneously on July 29. Khaleda Zia, the two-time premier and leader of the BNP, has already been convicted and sentenced to 17 years in jail on corruption charges. The sentencing of Tarique Rahman and his wife adds another layer of complexity to the political landscape, further intensifying the ongoing power struggle between the ruling party and the opposition.