DHAKA: The High Court has also granted BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s plea for transferring the trial court for the Zia Charitable Trust graft case, and asked the fresh court to dispose of the trial proceedings within 60 days.

The HC bench of Justice M. Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the order on Wednesday (May 17) after hearing the petition filed by the BNP chief.

The HC bench also fixed the court of Judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 Dr Md Akhtaruzzamn to deal with the Khaleda Zia’s case.

The BNP chief’s counsel Barrister Jakir Hossain Bhuiyan confirmed the matter to the Banglanews.

The HC’s order about the Zia Charitable Trust graft case came three day after such an order of another bench of the High Court about the BNP chief’s Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

On May 14, the HC bench of Justice Md Shawkat Hossain and Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder once again granted her plea for changing the trial court of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. The same trial court-- Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 --was also fixed for dealing with the case.

On May 15, Barrister Jakir Hossain Bhuiyan submitted the application of the BNP chairperson for changing the trial court for the Zia Charitable Trust graft case, citing lack of confidence in the judge.

The trial proceeding in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case was going on at the court of special judge Abu Ahmed Jomader. The makeshift court was set up at Bakshibazar in the city. The trial court was scheduled to hear Khaleda Zia’s statement in the case on May 25.  

On April 13, the BNP chief submitted an application expressing no confidence in judge of the trial court. The judge, however, rejected the plea.

The anti-corruption commission (ACC) filed the case on July 3 in 2008 with Ramna police station accusing Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and four others for embezzlement of about Tk 21 million that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.

BDST: 1510 HRS, MAY 17, 2017
EHJ