DHAKA: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia arrived in a Dhaka court on Monday morning to attend hearings in Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust cases.

She started from her Gulshan residence around 9:55am and reached the court in Bakshibazar at 10:52am.

Special Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar is expected to hear the deposition and cross-examination in the cases at the makeshift court set up in Alia Madrasa ground in the city.

Earlier on Sunday, Khaleda Zia’s adviser and lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, also the president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), informed that Khaleda will appear before the court if she is assured of getting adequate security.

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

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: 1115 HRS, MAY 25, 2015
BD/RS/SMS