DHAKA: A Dhaka court on Sunday deferred the indictment hearings in Zia Orphanage Trust embezzlement case and Zia Charitable Trust case to March 19.

Dhaka special judge court-2 judge Rezaul Karim passed the deferment order in response to a time plea filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s lawyers Sanaullah Mia and Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder.

Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Mosharaf Hossain Kazal opposed the time petition.

In the petition, Khaleda Zia sought time as she failed to appear before the court due to her illness.

The charge framing hearings of Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust cases were scheduled to be held on Sunday (February 16).

The accused for these two cases are Senior Vice-President of BNP Tarique Rahman, Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, Sharfuddin Ahmed, Ziaul Islam Munna, Monirul Islam Khan and former Political Secretary of Khaleda Zia Harichh Chowdhury.

However, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed two cases against them in 2008 and 2011 for embezzling money using the name of the charitable organizations.

BDST: 1231 HRS, FEB 16, 2014