DHAKA: A Dhaka court set November 19 for further hearing on Zia Orphanage and Charitable Trust graft cases against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and others.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge's Court-3 setup on Alia Madrasa premises at Bakshibazar fixed the date on Thursday.
During day’s proceedings, defense lawyers cross-examined the 19th witness (witness of seized list) Metro Makers and Developers Limited MD AFM Jahangir Hossain on the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
Abdur Rezzak Khan on behalf of Khaleda, Advocate Aminul Islam on behalf of Ziaul Islam Munna, and advocate Jahangir Hossain on behalf of Monirul Islam Khan completed testify of the witness.
After cross-examination, the court recorded depositions of Metro Makers and Developers Limited former DGM Zakaria Khan (21st witness) and Social Islami Bank SEVP Ziauddin M Ghurni (22nd witness) gave statements in the case.
Then, the court set November 19 for cross-examination of three witnesses, including Metro Makers and Developers Limited DMD Mainul Imran Chowdhury and recording deposition of next witnesses.
With the deposition recording of the duo, 22 witnesses gave the deposition in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
Khaleda’s counsel Advocate Sanaullah Mia filed a petition seeking his client’s exemption from personal appearance before the court and continue trial proceedings in absence of the BNP chairperson.
Later, the court granted her non-appearance appeal.
Besides, the same court kept the hearing of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case adjourned as an application of the defense seeking 'leave to appeal' pending at the High Court.
Zia Orphanage Trust Graft Case
The Anti Corruption Commission (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 Tk over 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, ACC filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, 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, Monirul Islam Khan and APS to Sadeque Hossain Khoka, mayor of the erstwhile Dhaka City Corporation.
BDST: 1902 HRS, NOV 12, 2015
RS/SMS
