DHAKA: The court has fixed June 15 as the next hearing date for BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear in Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.  

The Special Judge Court-5, the makeshift court set up at Bakshibazar in the city, on Thursday (June 08) deferred till June 15 the hearing on Khaleda’s self-defense statement in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Judge of the special court Md Akhtaruz-zaman passed the order in response to a petition filed by the BNP chief.

Khaleda Zia appeared before the court and gave the self-defense statement. The court recorded her self-defense over Zia Orphanage Trust and set the further hearing date after concluding hearing.

Besides, the court also fixed June 15 for cross-examination of the six witnesses in Zia Charitable Trust graft case following a petition filed by the BNP chief.

On May 8, the High Court ordered the transfer of the case of Zia Orphanage Trust graft to Dhaka Senior Special Judge’s Court (Metropolitan Session Judge’s Court) from Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-3.

On July 3 in 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna police station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21. 0 million (2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.

Besides, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case on August 8 in 2011, with Tejgaon police station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing of power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.

BDST: 1555 HRS, JUNE 08, 2017  
EHJ