DHAKA: A Special Court on Wednesday upheld the arrest warrant issued against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia deferring deposition in Zia Charitable and Zia Orphanage Trust cases till April 5.

Abu Ahmed Jomadar, Judge of Third Special Court at Bakshibazar Alia Madrasa ground, passed the order amid political tension across the country.

In its order, the court also said counsel of BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman can appear before court on his behalf.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, however, abstained from appearing before court again in the grafts cases showing security reasons.

However, her lawyers have placed her pleas before Bakshibazar makeshift court seeking bail, deferment of hearing and withdrawal of the arrest warrant in the graft cases.

BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, another accused in the cases has also pleaded to extend time for appearing before court.

Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) also produced seven prosecution witnesses on Wednesday.

When contacted, Assistant Police Commissioner of Gulshan Zone Nurul Alam told banglanews that they were ready to escort Khaleda Zia to court if she wanted.

Besides, additional number of law enforcers were deployed in and around court premises.

Earlier in the day, Khaleda Zia’s panel lawyer Sanaullah Mia told banglanews that she would remain busy for the Chehlum of her younger son Arafat Rahman KoKo at her Gulshan office on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Her lawyer Khandakar Mahbub Hossain said BNP chairperson would appear before court in grafts cases on condition of assurance to return safely to her Gulshan office after bail and adequate security.

On February 25, the court issued the arrest warrant against three persons including, the BNP chief and vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, also son of Khaleda Zia, as they were absent in the hearing of the two cases for a long period.

BDST: 1157 HRS, MAR 04, 2015/Update: 1434 HRS