Graft cases against Khaleda
Hearing adjourned till Oct 21
A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned till October 21 the hearings of Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and three others.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Special Judge Court-3, adjourned the hearing after defence lawyers cross-examined prosecution witness statements of deputy general manager of Sonali Bank, Dr Md Hafizur Rahman, its assistant general manager Md Amir uddin and senior executive officer Poritosh Chandra Sarker.
During yesterdays proceedings, the court recorded depositions of the three witnesses in the Zia Charitable Trust Graft case.
Later, the court kept adjourned the cross examination and deposition in the Zia Orphanage Trust Graft case in reply to a plea of defense counsel as a leave to appeal remained pending with the High Court.
The trial court held yesterdays proceedings in absence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, counsel for Khaleda, filed a petition over the absence of Khaleda Zia, stating that the BNP chief is now in London for taking medical treatment. The court allowed the plea.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust Graft Case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and four others of misappropriating Tk over 2.10-crore, which came as grants for orphans from a foreign bank.
The others accused in the case are former BNP lawmaker Kazi Saleemul Haque, businessperson Sharfuddin Ahmed, Khaledas former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Momenur Rahman.
