DHAKA: BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia appealed to the High Court (HC) for cancellation of deposition against her in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

The bench of Justice M Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hasan might hear the plea on Monday.

Earlier on May 25, Khaleda Zia filed a petition seeking cancellation of first witness Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) deputy director Harunur Rashid’s deposition recorded on May 5.

Special Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the makeshift court set up in Alia Madrasa ground in the city rejected the petition and set June 18 for next hearing.

The BNP chief filed the petition seeking review of the special court’s rejection, said Khaleda Zia’s lawyer Barrister Ehsanur Rahman.

He, earlier, explained that the recording of deposition placed by first witness was not lawful as Khaleda Zia was absent in the court on the day.

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: 1218 HRS, JUNE 15, 2015
BD/RS/SMS