BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will not appear to court for hearing in the Zia Charitable and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases Thursday.
The hearing will be held at the Special Judge’s Court-3 of Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar setup on Alia Madrasa premises at Bakshibazar.
Earlier, the court had set December 3 for cross-examination of the witnesses and recording depositions of more witnesses. Judge Abu Ahmed Jomader of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-3 will conduct the proceedings of his court on Alia Madrasa premises of Bakshibazar area in the capital.After her return from London, the BNP Chief did not appear to the trial court on November 26. But she surrendered before the court of Special Judge Court-9 in the Niko graft case and got bail on Monday (November 30).
However, Khaleda’s counsel Sanaullah Mia told newsmen on Wednesday that the BNP Chairperson needs more rest after overseas tour in connection with her medical treatment in London. She is not yet fully physically fit for going to court on Thursday. She will appear before the court on the next date of hearing, the counsel added.
So far 25 witnesses testified in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case. Besides, the same court kept the hearing of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case adjourned as an application of the defence seeking ‘leave to appeal’ is pending at the High Court Division.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Model Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore, which came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
The other accused are former BNP lawmaker Kazi Saleemul Haque, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Khaleda’s former Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Momenur Rahman.
On August 8, 2011, ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources. Other accused persons in the case are- Harris Chowdhury, Ziaul Islam Munna, Assistant Private Secretary (APS) to Harris, Monirul Islam Khan and APS to Sadeque Hossain Khoka, mayor of the erstwhile Dhaka City Corporation. – Court Correspondent
