A Dhaka court on Sunday deferred the hearing on charge framing against BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia and others in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.Judge-in-Charge of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-3, Md Mozammel Haque passed the order when Khaleda Zia’s lawyers including Advocate Sanaullah Mia filed separate time petitions seeking adjournment of the hearing in both cases due to the insecure situation of the country following BNP-led 18-party alliance’s shutdown and road blockade.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) senior lawyer Mosharraf Hossain alleged that the defence councils sought time 25 times in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and 12 times in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four persons including Khaleda Zia, for abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.
On the other hand, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on
July 3, 2008, with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore which case as grants from a foreign bank for the orphans. – Court Correspondent
