DHAKA: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday (June 15) appeared before a Dhaka court for hearing in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

The Special Judge Court-5, the makeshift court set up at Bakshibazar in the city, adjourned the hearing in the two graft cases till June 22 accepting a time plea filed by Khaleda Zia’s lawyer.

Judge of the special court Md Akhtaruzzaman passed the order, as  Khaleda Zia’s counsel Abdur Rezzak Khan said that he would not be able to conclude the cross examination of investigation officer Harunur Rashid in Zia Charitable Trust graft case today (Thursday) as he is not physically fit.

After that he asked couple of questions to the deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the court then adjourned the hearing till June 22.

The court also set the same day for submitting statement in self-defense by the BNP Chief in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Earlier on June 08, the court fixed June 15 as the next hearing date for Khaleda Zia to appear in the graft cases. Khaleda Zia appeared before the court on that day too.

On May 8, the High Court ordered of transfering 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 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: 1808 HRS, JUNE 15, 2017  
EHJ