DHAKA: The defense lawyers of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia placed their closing arguments before the court on Tuesday (December 26) in presence of the BNP chief.

They placed the arguments for the third consecutive day in the graft case.

After recording their defense argument, Judge of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 Md Akhtaruzzaman adjourned it till December 26 (Wednesday).

Earlier, Khaleda Zia appeared before the special court, the makeshift court built on the premises of Madrasa-e-Alia Dhaka at Bakshibazaar area in the city, amid tight security at about 11:00 am.

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

Khaleda Zia submitted a written self-defense statement in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. The court accepted her statement and fixed December 26, 27 and 28 for hearing.

Earlier, the lawyer of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Mosharraf Hossain Kajol concluded his arguments for seeking life imprisonment for Khaleda Zia and five others accused in the case.
    
On December 05, Khaleda Zia surrendered before the special court and received bail in the two cases.

On August 8 in 2011, the 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 city’s 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: 1735 HRS, DEC 26, 2017
EHJ/SMS