zia charitable trust graft case

HC clears way for Khaleda trial in absentia

The High Court yesterday cleared the way for the trial proceedings to continue in Zia Charitable Trust graft case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in her absence, reports UNB. The High Court bench of Justice Obaidul Hasan and Justice SM Kuddus Zaman passed the order rejecting a review petition filed by Khaleda Zia challenging the trial court decision.

“The court has summarily rejected her plea, clearing way to continue the proceedings of Zia Charitable Trust graft case in her absence,” Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) counsel Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan told newsmen. "Now there is no legal bar to continue the trial proceedings of the case in Khaleda's absence," he added.

Earlier on September 27, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging a lower court's decision.

Barrister Kaiser Kamal, a counsel for Khaleda Zia, filed the petition on behalf of the main accused in the case.

Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on September 20 passed an order, saying it would try imprisoned BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in absentia in the case as she was “unwilling” to appear at the makeshift court complex inside Old Dhaka Central Jail.

Khaleda Zia, who has been in jail since her conviction in the Zia orphanage trust graft case on February 8, refused to appear before the court during the trial of Zia charitable trust case on 'safety grounds'.

Later, the government shifted the court to jail premises to ensure his safety. Yet, she did not appear before the court.

The state counsel appealed to the court to continue the trial proceedings of the case in absence of Khaleda Zia. The court accepted their pleading.

The ACC filed the case with capital’s Tejgaon Police Station on August 8, 2010, for embezzling Taka 3.15 crore while police on January 16, 2012, filed charge sheet against four including the ex-premier.

The other accused are Khaleda’s former political secretary Haris Chowdhury, the then BIWTA director Ziaul Islam Munna and Monirul Islam Khan, former personal secretary of the then Dhaka city mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka.

The court framed charges against Khaleda and others in the case on March 19, 2014.

The BNP chairperson is now serving a five-year jail term in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

 

zia charitable trust graft case

HC clears way for Khaleda trial in absentia

The High Court yesterday cleared the way for the trial proceedings to continue in Zia Charitable Trust graft case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in her absence, reports UNB. The High Court bench of Justice Obaidul Hasan and Justice SM Kuddus Zaman passed the order rejecting a review petition filed by Khaleda Zia challenging the trial court decision. The court has summarily rejected her plea, clearing way to continue the proceedings of Zia Charitable Trust graft case in her absence, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) counsel Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan told newsmen. Now there is no legal bar to continue the trial proceedings of the case in Khaledas absence, he added. Earlier on September 27, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging a lower courts decision. Barrister Kaiser Kamal, a counsel for Khaleda Zia, filed the petition on behalf of the main accused in the case. Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on September 20 passed an order, saying it would try imprisoned BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in absentia in the case as she was unwilling to appear at the makeshift court complex inside Old Dhaka Central Jail. Khaleda Zia, who has been in jail since her conviction in the Zia orphanage trust graft case on February 8, refused to appear before the court during the trial of Zia charitable trust case on safety grounds. Later, the government shifted the court to jail premises to ensure his safety. Yet, she did not appear before the court. The state counsel appealed to the court to continue the trial proceedings of the case in absence of Khaleda Zia. The court accepted their pleading. The ACC filed the case with capitals Tejgaon Police Station on August 8, 2010, for embezzling Taka 3.15 crore while police on January 16, 2012, filed charge sheet against four including the ex-premier. The other accused are Khaledas former political secretary Haris Chowdhury, the then BIWTA director Ziaul Islam Munna and Monirul Islam Khan, former personal secretary of the then Dhaka city mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka. The court framed charges against Khaleda and others in the case on March 19, 2014. The BNP chairperson is now serving a five-year jail term in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.