Hearing on Khaleda graft cases Aug 27

Khaleda leaves for London this week

A Dhaka court yesterday fixed August 27 for hearing the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases facing by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, reports UNB.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-3 fixed the date after cross-examining Ziaul Haque Munna, an accused in the case and former assistant personal secretary of Harris Chowdury.
Besides, the court granted the non-appearance petition of Khaleda Zia when her counsel Khandaker Mahbub Hossain submitted the petition.
Meanwhile, the court asked the authorities concerned not to allow Munna to go abroad as Mosharraf Hossain, public prosecutor of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), informed the court that Munna got US green card and he might leave the country anytime.
However, the court also asked the authorities concerned to submit the passport of Munna to it on August 27 and asked the law-enforcement agencies concerned to take necessary precautionary measures in this regard.  Earlier on July 23, the special judge court adjourned till August 3 the hearing on the two graft cases against Khaleda Zia.

On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.
ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also an investigation officer of the case, pressed charges against the accused on January 16, 2012.
Besides, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK after securing bail, and four others for misappropriating over Tk2.10 crore which came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
On August 5, 2010, Harunur Rashid submitted a charge-sheet to the court in the case against six people, including Khaleda Zia.
Our Staff Reporter adds: According to top-level party sources, the BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, is likely to leave for London for treatment of her eye problem sometime this week. Briefing reporters, the BNP spokesperson yesterday said that she might leave Dhaka in the next couple of days.
Sources in London said Khaleda’s schedule has not been fixed yet, but is likely to arrive on August 13 or 16.
“The BNP chief is coming to London for health check-up, including an eye problem. During her stay, she might have meetings with some political leaders like Bangladesh-born MP, Rausnara Ali and other community leaders,” said a source close to the BNP Senior Vice-Chairman, Tarique Rahman.
“She might exchange views with Bangladeshi expatriates in London and the local BNP unit might even organise a reception in her honour. She might stay in London for a week or more,” the source added.
Earlier, briefing at the party’s central office, Ripon, the party’s international affairs secretary, told reporters that it will be a private visit. “I cannot give the date of her visit, but she might leave for London on Tuesday or Wednesday,” he added.
Replying to a question, he said the possibility of holding meetings with political leaders is not unusual since she is the leader of a major political party.
Khaleda was scheduled to visit to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah during Ramzan and meet her elder son, Tarique Rahman, who was also due to go there. But the programme got cancelled due to unknown reasons.
Sources informed that the former premier would discuss with her son the latest political developments at home, the party’s stand on the possibility of mid-term elections and the party’s reorganisation and the future course of action.
Khaleda will also spend time with her daughter-in-law, Jobaida Rahman, and granddaughter Jaima Rahman.
This is her first visit to London since the death of her youngest son, Arafat Rahman Koko, in Malaysia.
Khaleda has met Tarique twice, who has been living in self-exile in London since 2008 following the 1/11 changeover. She met him last in the middle of March in 2014.
Meanwhile, another source added that the BNP’s acting Secretary, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, yesterday left Singapore for New York for treatment.

Hearing on Khaleda graft cases Aug 27

Khaleda leaves for London this week

A Dhaka court yesterday fixed August 27 for hearing the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases facing by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, reports UNB. Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Dhaka Special Judges Court-3 fixed the date after cross-examining Ziaul Haque Munna, an accused in the case and former assistant personal secretary of Harris Chowdury. Besides, the court granted the non-appearance petition of Khaleda Zia when her counsel Khandaker Mahbub Hossain submitted the petition. Meanwhile, the court asked the authorities concerned not to allow Munna to go abroad as Mosharraf Hossain, public prosecutor of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), informed the court that Munna got US green card and he might leave the country anytime. However, the court also asked the authorities concerned to submit the passport of Munna to it on August 27 and asked the law-enforcement agencies concerned to take necessary precautionary measures in this regard. Earlier on July 23, the special judge court adjourned till August 3 the hearing on the two graft cases against Khaleda Zia. On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources. ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also an investigation officer of the case, pressed charges against the accused on January 16, 2012. Besides, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK after securing bail, and four others for misappropriating over Tk2.10 crore which came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans. On August 5, 2010, Harunur Rashid submitted a charge-sheet to the court in the case against six people, including Khaleda Zia. Our Staff Reporter adds: According to top-level party sources, the BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, is likely to leave for London for treatment of her eye problem sometime this week. Briefing reporters, the BNP spokesperson yesterday said that she might leave Dhaka in the next couple of days. Sources in London said Khaledas schedule has not been fixed yet, but is likely to arrive on August 13 or 16. The BNP chief is coming to London for health check-up, including an eye problem. During her stay, she might have meetings with some political leaders like Bangladesh-born MP, Rausnara Ali and other community leaders, said a source close to the BNP Senior Vice-Chairman, Tarique Rahman. She might exchange views with Bangladeshi expatriates in London and the local BNP unit might even organise a reception in her honour. She might stay in London for a week or more, the source added. Earlier, briefing at the partys central office, Ripon, the partys international affairs secretary, told reporters that it will be a private visit. I cannot give the date of her visit, but she might leave for London on Tuesday or Wednesday, he added. Replying to a question, he said the possibility of holding meetings with political leaders is not unusual since she is the leader of a major political party. Khaleda was scheduled to visit to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah during Ramzan and meet her elder son, Tarique Rahman, who was also due to go there. But the programme got cancelled due to unknown reasons. Sources informed that the former premier would discuss with her son the latest political developments at home, the partys stand on the possibility of mid-term elections and the partys reorganisation and the future course of action. Khaleda will also spend time with her daughter-in-law, Jobaida Rahman, and granddaughter Jaima Rahman. This is her first visit to London since the death of her youngest son, Arafat Rahman Koko, in Malaysia. Khaleda has met Tarique twice, who has been living in self-exile in London since 2008 following the 1/11 changeover. She met him last in the middle of March in 2014. Meanwhile, another source added that the BNPs acting Secretary, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, yesterday left Singapore for New York for treatment.