"Khaleda and the other convicts were also fined Tk 10 lakh each, in default of which they will have to serve six more months in jail, according to the verdict," The Daily Star reported.

As per media reports, this is the highest punishment under the existing law of the Asian nation.

The court also ordered to attach in favour of the state the 42 kathas of land which was purchased under the name of the trust, reported the Bangladesh-based newspaper.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was on Feb 8 was sentenced to five years in jail as a Bangladesh court convicted her in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

She has been in prison since that day.

The latest verdict came at a time when Bangladesh is gearing up to vote  in the general polls in the next couple of months.