BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Prothom Alo File PhotoA total of 14 cases against Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia were shifted to the makeshift court set up at Dhaka Alia Madrasha field.
An official order in this regard was issued on Thursday.
Trial of two other cases against the BNP chief — Zia Charitable Trust graft case and Zia Orphanage Trust case — is also going on in the same court.
Court sources said among the 14 cases, trial of nine case are going on at Dhaka metropolitan sessions court, three are under trial at special judges’ court, and two are under Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate court.
Among the cases, three were filed during the army-backed caretaker government tenure, 10 filed in 2015, and one in 2016.
Speaking with Prothom Alo, Mahbub Uddin said, “Law is equal for all. However, cases against Khaleda Zia are being treated differently.”
He also said government is doing this to harass the BNP chief, to humiliate her and to keep her away from the politics.
Public prosecutor of the Dhaka metropolitan sessions judges court Abdullah Abu meanwhile denied the transfer of the cases to be politically motivated.
The cases were transferred keeping the security issue of the BNP chief in mind, he said.
The BNP chief placed her arguments in self-defence before the court in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The date of the verdict on Zia charitable trust case will be fixed after the argument in the case takes place on 9 and 10 January.
According to the court documents, Khaleda Zia has five graft cases against her and a total of 32 cases in different courts of the country including sedition, murder (accused of aiding and abating) distorting history, commentary on Bangabandhu, celebrating false birthday.
Deputy commissioner (crime information and prosecution department) Anisur Rahman said the law, judiciary and parliament related ministry issued the official order on 4 January by the order of president.
According to the order, the judges of the related court will hold the proceedings at the makeshift court premises.
Cases filed against Khaleda Zia
Barapukuria graft case: ACC filed the case with Shahbag police station in 2006 against Khaleda Zia for corruption in Barapukuria coalmining, maintenance and management. The case is under trial in Dhaka special judges court-2.
Gatco case: Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Co Ltd (GATCO) graft case has been filed by ACC against Khaleda Zia including 12 others with Tejgaon police station in 2007. The case is under trial in Dhaka special judges court-3.
Niko graft case: The trial of Niko corruption case is proceeding under Dhaka special judges court-9. Anti Corruption Commission filed the case against Khaleda Zia and 11 others over charges that they abused power to award a deal to Canadian company Niko causing a loss of TK. 137.77 billion.
Besides, chargesheets of nine cases against khaleda Zia accused of aiding and abetting distortion of history and instigation violence during Hartal (general strike) and blockade and defamation have been submitted.
Zainul Abedin, Khaleda Zia’s lawyer told Prothom Alo, these cases are being shifted to the makeshift court on safety grounds. Ruling party is doing this to keep Khaleda Zia away from the election.
