Dhaka, 31 Jan – The judge of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-5 left his courtroom on Wednesday following a pandemonium created by the lawyers of the prosecution and defence during the second day arguments in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.Judge Dr Md Akhteruzzaman left the courtroom at about 11:15am when defence counsel Aminul Islam placing his arguments on behalf of his client, accused Ziaul Haque Munna. An altercation took place when the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajal started giving statement in the middle of Aminul Islam’s statement. He told the court that ACC prosecutor addressed the court like a member of the ruling Awami League man, although, an ACC lawyer cannot speak like a party man.
Citing the Tuesday’s Sylhet visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Aminul Islam, counsel of accused Ziaul Islam Munna, former acting director (naval security and traffic) of BIWTA, said, “While one (Hasina) is seeking vote in rally, another (Khaleda Zia) is appearing at the court.”
An altercation ensued between the prosecution and defence lawyers when Anti-Corruption Commission counsel Mosharraf Hossain Kajal obstructed Aminul. At one stage, Judge Md Akhteruzzaman asked them to stop their altercation. As they did not pay heed to the judge’s order, he left the courtroom. After 15 minutes, he returned to the courtroom and resumed the trial proceeding. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was present during the hearing.
The hearing began again after the judge returned to the ejlash at about 12:10 pm. Then, he asked only senior lawyers, to make submission in the court.
At one stage of hearing, lawyers from both sides again locked in quarrel and chaotic situation was created, leading the judge to left the courtroom once again.
Placing of arguments in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case began at the makeshift court set up at Bakshibazar area in the city on Tuesday.
ACC prosecutor Kajal completed placing arguments on behalf of the prosecution. The defence lawyers are scheduled to resume placing their arguments on Thursday.
On July 3, 2008, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Model Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21 million that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
On August 8, 2011, the anti-graft body filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Model Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abuse of power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources. Other three accused persons are Khaleda Zia’s former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, his former personal assistant Ziaul Islam Munna and former Dhaka City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka’s personal assistant Monirul Islam Khan. – Special Correspondent
he judge dealing with the Zia Charitable Trust graft case left the courtroom on Wednesday amid a chaos created by the prosecution and defence counsels, halting the trial proceedings for 15 minutes.
Citing the Tuesday’s Sylhet visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Aminul Islam, counsel of accused Ziaul Islam Munna, former acting director (naval security and traffic) of BIWTA, said, “While one (Hasina) is seeking vote in rally, another (Khaleda Zia) is appearing at the court.”
An altercation ensued between the prosecution and defence lawyers when Anti-Corruption Commission counsel Mosharraf Hossain Kajal obstructed Aminul. At one stage, Judge Md Akhteruzzaman asked them to stop their altercation. As they did not pay heed to the judge’s order, he left the courtroom. After 15 minutes, he returned to the courtroom and resumed the trial proceeding. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was present during the hearing.
Meanwhile, the court fixed Thursday as the next date of hearing in the case.
On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.
