DHAKA: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and two other accused were granted bail in Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust cases Sunday.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Dhaka Third Special Judge Court set up on Bakshibazar Alia Madrasah ground passed the order on her bail petitions filed by Khaleda's lawyer Sanaullah Miah.

The court also adjourned the hearing on the two cases till May 5.

Earlier, after three months, she came out of her political office at city’s Gulshan area at around 10:00am and reached court at 10:37am.

The two other accused -- Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal alias Econo Kamal, former MP of Magura and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed also appeared before the court.

In another order, the court also granted the appeal of Tarique Rahman, elder son of Khaleda Zia, to appear before court by his lawyer.

Lawyers of the BNP chief had submitted four separate petitions, including bail canceling the arrest warrant, before she arrived at court.

At first, the court heard the bail petition where former attorney general AJ Mohammad Ali, barrister Moudud Ahmad, Mahbubuddin Khokan, Sanaullah Mia, Aminul Islam, among others stood for the defense.

But ACC lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajal did not oppose the bail petition and said that he had on objection on her court appearance by lawyer.

On February 25, an arrest warrant was issued against Khaleda Zia after she skipped appearing before court during several hearings.

Zia Orphanage Case

The ACC filed the graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest 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, businessperson Sharfuddin Ahmed, Khaleda's former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Momenur Rahman.

Zia Charitable Trust Case

On August 8, 2011, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.   

The other accused in the case are Harris Chowdhury, Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary (APS) to Harris, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS to Sadeque Hossain Khoka, mayor of the erstwhile Dhaka City Corporation.

BDST: 1330 HRS, APR 05, 2015

BD/AKA/RS/SMS

**Khaleda appears in court