The Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka on Thursday adjourned the hearing in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case lodged
against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and five others till November 2 as the BNP leader could not
complete placing her statement in self-defence on the second day.Earlier, at about 11.55 am on Thursday, Khaleda Zia appeared before the court set up in Dhaka’s Bakshibazar area
and placed her statement in self-defence. While placing statement in self-defence in the two graft cases, Khaleda
Zia termed the incumbent government “illegal” saying that the country does not have any elected government and
parliament. Later, she sought permission from the court to place the remaining part of her statement on the next
date of hearing and the court acceded to her plea.
On October 19, the same court granted her in the two graft cases upon a bond of Taka one lakh each. On July 3,
2008, the Zia Orphanage Trust case was filed with Ramna Police Station accusing six persons including the BNP
Chief’s son Tarique Rahman for embezzlement of over Tk 21 million brought from abroad to use in the welfare of
the orphans. Other four accused persons are- Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Kamal Uddin
Siddiqui and BNP founder Ziaur Raman’s nephew Mominur Rahman.
The other case, the Zia Charitable Trust graft was filed on August 8, 2011, with Tejgaon Police Station accusing
four persons including Begum Khaleda Zia of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources through abuse of
power. – Special Correspondent
UNB adds: Claiming herself innocent, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday got emotional in a court here and said the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case is a ‘fake’ one as it was filed against her with a ‘political motive’.
“All the cases filed against me are fake ones. What crime did I commit for which I have to appear before the court repeatedly? I want to restore the democratic governance system and people’s rights and establish peace instead of conflict. Is it my offence for which I’m facing so much harassment and so many cases,” bemoaned Khaleda.
The BNP chief made the remarks and burst into tears in the courtroom while giving her self-defence statement in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case before the makeshift court of Special Judge-5 at Bakshibazar for the second day.
In her over an hour-written speech, the BNP chief also alleged that many warrants have been issued for her arrest one after another in recent years in ‘false’ cases filed against her.
“I was evicted from the house with which I had four decades of memories. The current government has confined me to my Gulshan residence keeping me isolated from people. ..During my confinement, I received the death news of one of my sons who had been undergoing treatment aboard,” Khaleda said with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Mentioning that there were many cases against Awami League President and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on various charges, including corruption, abuse of power, extortion and irregularities, she said, “But she (Hasina) is lucky enough that she has not to appear before court like me.”
Khaleda said she has been trying to appear before court at this advanced age amid her busyness and various problems as she has respect for the law, court and the judiciary.
Earlier on Octover19, Khaleda started placing her self-defence statement in the case.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 Judge Md Aktaruzzaman recorded her statement and fixed November 2 the new date for hearing on the case. The court also asked the BNP chief to conclude her statement on that day.
On July 3, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21.0 million (2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
On August 8, 2011, the commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abuse of power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources
