Dhaka – The Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka on Thursday passed orders asking BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to appear before it on December on December 22 to complete her statement in self-defence in Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of passed the orders after hearing a time petition filed by Khaleda Zia’s lawyer Sanaullah Miah citing her illness.
On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Model Police Station accusing four persons, including Khaleda Zia, on the charge of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources abusing her official position.
ACC Deputy Director Harunur Rashid and also the Investigation Officer of the case, submitted the charge of the case to the court on January 16, 2012.
Earlier, the ACC lodged the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Model Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK after securing bail, and four others for embezzling over Tk 21. 0 million (Tk 2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
Besides, another court deferred the hearing on charge framing in the Niko graft and Barapukuria Coal Mine graft cases.
Judge Aminul Islam of the Special Judge Court-9 of Dhaka set February 2 for hearing in the Niko graft case and February 15 for hearing in the Barapukuria Coal Mine graft case.
The ACC filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda Zia and four others for causing loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the national exchequer signing an oil-gas exploration agreement with Niko Company during BNP-Jamaat alliance rule on December 9, 2007.
On February 26, 2008, Md Shamsul Alam, the then Assistant Director of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), filed the Barapukuria Coal Mine case with Shahbagh Police Station against 16 people, including Khaleda Zia and members of her cabinet for causing loss to the national exchequer. – Special Correspondent
