Zia Orphanage graft case
Defence argument adjourned till Jan 23
Staff Reporter
A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned till January 23 the hearing of the remaining of the defence arguments of two others accused, Sarfuddin Ahmed and Kazi Salimul Huq, in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is the main accused in the case filed by the Anti Corruption Commission. While Khaledas argument hearing in the case has already concluded, the court fixed January 23, 24, 25 to hear the arguments of the rest of the accused.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, accused Khaleda Zia, Sarfuddin Ahmed and Kazi Salimul Huq appeared before the special Judges court-5 in Bakshibazar while Judge Dr. Akhteruzzaman started the hearing. Lawyer advocate Mohammad Ahsanullah placed the defence argument in court on behalf of the two accused.
During Wednesdays hearing, Khaledas lawyer sought adjournment of the argument for Thursday, saying that Khaleda would not be able to appear before the court on the day as it was her mothers death anniversary. Dhaka Special Judges Court-5 judge Md Akhtaruzzaman, however, granted bail to Khaleda rejecting the plea for adjournment.
Argument for the other accused would continue, the court ordered. Khaledas lawyer wrapped up arguments in the orphanage trust graft case on Tuesday.
After the court order, Khaledas lawyer Taherul Islam Towhid said that Khaleda would appear before the court as the argument was not adjourned.
On July 3 in 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station accusing six people including Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique, and four others of misappropriating Tk 2.10 crore of foreign bank grants for orphans.
Three years later, the commission accused Khaleda and three others of misappropriating Tk 3.15 crore from the Zia Charitable Trust fund.
