DHAKA: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will appear before the court on Monday for hearing in Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust cases against her if she is assured of getting adequate security.

Khaleda Zia’s adviser and lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, also the president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), informed the matter to the media at his office of the city on Sunday.

The proceedings of the two cases have been conducting in the court of Special Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar at the makeshift court set up in Alia Madrasa ground in the city.

Mahbub said Khaleda Zia is respectful on law. She will appear before the court on Monday if the government ensures her of security on the way to court and any untoward situation would not be occurred during the time.

However, the lawyers will meet the BNP chairman on Sunday night.

Another BNP lawyer Sanaullah Miah, also BNP’s mass education affairs secretary, also confirmed the possibility of Khaleda Zia’s appearance in court.

Zia Orphanage Trust Graft 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 Graft 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: 1734 HRS, MAY 24, 2015
BD/RS/SMS