Khaleda trains guns on IO in graft case
Baseless reports submitted, she tells court
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday accused Harun-or-Rashid, investigating officer (IO) in her case, of giving untrue and baseless reports against her. The IO, influenced by quarters with vested interests and being angered, has made an untrue statement before the court against me, she said in her incomplete self-defence statement before the court in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case for the sixth day.
The BNP chief pleaded not guilty and demanded justice. He claimed that the IOs statement against her was totally baseless, fabricated and ill-motivated. She made the appeal after Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of the special judge court-5 of Dhaka read out charges and asked her whether she was guilty or not.
Replying to a question, the BNP chief told the court that she would place her self-defence statement in a written format and submit a list of defence witnesses in the case.
The makeshift court at Bakshibazar fixed November 30 for the next hearing.
Khaleda said no witness had made a statement saying
that she was involved in taking any donation from the orphanage fund by misusing her power as prime minister. Describing the IO as loyal to the government, the former premier said Harun-or-Rashid is a much enthusiastic person and loyal to the government. She mentioned that the IO had been sacked from the Anti Corruption Commission in 2005. Thats why he was aggrieved and the government chose to use him against us, she said. She also questioned the appointment of Harun-or-Rashid in 1979. This officer has carried out the whole investigation and submitted his report even after being angry at me and at the willingness of quarters with vested interests and their directives. He has also made an untrue statement against me before the court, she added.
Khaleda alleged that the Awami League has been trying to tarnish her image by carrying out propaganda against her.
She iterated that she personally has no links with the Zia Orphanage Trust. The BNP chief reached the court at about 11:30am. Later, ACC lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajal told the court that Khaleda, in her statement, brought up personal issues and accused her of launching a personal attack on the IO. Khaledas counsel demanded permanent bail for the BNP chief, but the court rejected the submission.
In 2011, the Anti Corruption Commission had filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon police, accusing four, including Khaleda, of misusing power to raise funds for the trust from unknown sources. In July 2008, the ACC had filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna police, accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique and four others of misappropriating over Tk. 2.10 crore that had come as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
