DHAKA: BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is not appearing before the court to attend the hearing in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust cases on Tuesday.

Khaleda Zia’s lawyer Advocate Zakir Hossain confirmed the matter to banglanews saying that they will file time petition to defer the recording of witness depositions.

Witness depositions in the cases were set to begin at the Bakshibazar makeshift court at Alia Madrasa in the city at 10:30am.

However, lawyers of another accused in the case - Tarique Rahman, will attend the hearing on behalf of their client.

Earlier on April 5, the Dhaka Third Special Judge court set May 5 the date to resume the hearing in the cases.

With Tuesday’s absence, Khaleda attended the court only eight out 66 working days.

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: 1110 HRS, MAY 05, 2015
HB/AKA