DHAKA: A Dhaka court on Thursday (February 9) set February 16 as the next date for deposition of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.
The makeshift court of third special Judge Abu Ahmed Jomader in Bakshi Bazar, Dhaka granted an appeal filed by Khaleda’s lawyers in this regard.
AJ Mohammad Ali, Abdur Rezak Khan, Joynal Abedin and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon filed the appeal in absence of the BNP chief during the hearing.
Anti Corruption Commission (ACC)’s lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol, however, opposed the appeal.
Earlier on July 3 of 2008, ACC filed a case for allegedly misusing Tk 21,071,671 from the funds of the Zia Orphanage Trust.
A total of six people, including Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, were made accused in the case.
Other accused are former BNP lawmaker Kazi Saleemul Haque Kamal alias Econo Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former principal secretary to PMO Dr. Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Mominur Rahman.
As many as 32 witnesses have given their statement in this case.
Kazi Saleemul Haque Kamal and Sharfuddin Ahmed submitted written confessional statements while Dr. Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Momenur Rahman remain fugitive from the outset of the trial.
Later on August 8, 2010, ACC filed another case with Tejgaon police station accusing four, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the Zia Charitable trust.
BDST: 1823 HRS, FEB 09, 2017
LM/SR/SMS
