Orphanage Trust graft case
Defence seek acquittal of Khaleda Zia
UNB
The lawyer of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia prayed for her acquittal yesterday after concluding for the day the defence argument in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, reports UNB.
Khaleda Zias defence lawyer Advocate Abdur Rezzak Khan said Hope Khaleda Zia will be acquitted from all charges as the state counsel had failed to prove any allegation against her.
This is a political case, which aims to harass Khaleda Zia and oust her from the ground of politics, he added.
He placed the closing arguments before the Dhaka Special Court-5 in Bakshibazar since morning.
Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the makeshift court adjourned the argument hearing for the fourth day and ordered to place rest of the argument on Thursday.
Earlier on December 21, the court fixed December 26, 27 and 28 for placing the defence arguments in the graft cases against Khaleda Zia.
On July 3, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21 million (2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
On August 8, 2011, the commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abuse of power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.
