DHAKA: A Dhaka court set December 10 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 in city fixed the date on Thursday.

Khaleda Zia skipped Thursday’s hearing in the Zia trusts graft cases on health ground.

On the day, defense lawyers cross-examined four witnesses and recorded deposition of Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) assistant director Nazmul Ahsan (26th witness) in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

Then, the court set December 10 for cross-examination of the new witness and recording deposition of next witnesses.

At the beginning of day’s proceedings, Khaleda’s counsel Advocate Sanaullah Mia filed a petition seeking his client’s exemption from personal appearance before the court as she was still unwell.

Later, the court ordered to continue the trial proceedings accepting Khaleda’s petition.

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: 1614 HRS, DEC 02, 2015
RS/RR/SMS