Dhaka – The Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka on Thursday fixed February 9 for placing the statement of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s on her defence in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.
Meanwhile, the BNP Chief expressed no-confidence on the judge of the court, who has been conducting the in connection with the two graft cases.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the special court set up on the Government Alia Madrasa playground in the capital’s Bakshibazar area rejected a petition, filed on behalf of Khaleda Zia seeking further investigation into the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. She appeared in the makeshift at about 11.40 am.
At the beginning of the hearing, the judge told Khaleda Zia to prepare for producing her statement in self-defence. Later, he read out the charges brought against the BNP leader in the case following the depositions of 32 prosecution witnesses. The court also rejected another petition filed by Khaleda Zia that expressed “no-confidence” in the judge and sought adjournment of reading the charges against her.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008, with Ramna Model Police Station accusing six persons including Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 that was received as grant for orphans from a foreign bank.
According to the charge sheet of the Zia Charitable Trust graft case, Khaleda Zia and three others abused their power to collect Tk 6.19 crore for the trust during the BNP-led government's tenure between 1991 and 1996 and this case was filed with Tejgaon Model Police Station accusing four persons including Khaleda Zia. – Special Correspondent
