DHAKA:  Though returned home from London after two and half months stay there, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will not appear before court in the hearing of Zia Charitable and Orphanage Trust Graft cases to be held on Thursday. 

The hearing will be held at the Special Judge's Court-3 of Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar setup on Alia Madrasa premises at Bakshibazar.

Earlier, the court set November 26 for cross-examination of the five witnesses and recording deposition of next witness.

Khaleda’s lawyer advocate Sanaullah Mia told banglanews on Wednesday that his client needs more rest after overseas tour. She is also not fully fit for going to court on Thursday. She will appear before the court in next hearing date.

Till the date, 25 witnesses gave the depositions in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

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: 1222 HRS, NOV 25, 2015
RS/SMS