DHAKA: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia appeared before a special court installed on the premises of jail department's parade ground in city's Bakshibazaar area, in Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust corruption cases on Tuesday (December 26).

Khaleda, the prime accused, reached the court at around 11:15am.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Vice Chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Joint Secretary General Aman Ullah Aman and several other central leaders were present at the court.

Arguments are being presented before the court, on Khaleda’ side, till filing this report at around 12:26pm.
    
On December 5, Khaleda Zia surrendered before a special court and received bail in the two cases.

On August 8 in 2011, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station in the city, accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources through power abuse.

On July 3 in 2008, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station, accusing Khaleda Zia, her elder son Tarique Rahman and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.

BDST: 1226 HRS, DEC 26, 2017
SI