Dhaka – The Third Special Judge Court of Dhaka on Thursday deferred the date to hear BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s statement on the charge of embezzling Tk 31.5 million of the Zia Charitable Trust.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the court fixed June 2 for next hearing as Khaleda Zia did not turn up yesterday. On the fifth date, her counsels pleaded for more time citing her illness. However, the court said it would issue an arrest warrant if Khalelda Zia failed to appear on the next date.The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on August 8, 2011 against Khaleda Zia and three others on the charge of embezzling Tk 31.5 million of the charitable trust. In 2012, charges were framed against the four, including the three-time prime minister.
Khaleda’s former political affairs secretary Harris Chowdhury, former BIWTA acting director Ziaul Islam Munna and former Dhaka mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka’s personal secretary Monirul Islam Khan are the three others accused in the case. Harris is on the run since the beginning of the case. Other two accused have already pleaded not guilty in the case, and sought justice.
The trial began in 2013 after the court indicted the four. On Mar 31 this year, the defence finished cross-examining the investigation officer ACC Deputy Director Harun ur Rashid.
Meanwhile, on May 15, a High Court Division bench rejected a petition filed by Khaleda Zia challenging the legality of testifying new Investigation Officer and seeking a stay order in the graft case. – Special Correspondent
