The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday paved the way for the lower court concerned to continue the trial proceedings in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. A four-member bench led by acting Chief Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah passed “no order” on a petition filed by Khaleda seeking order to allow her lawyer for further cross examination of nine prosecution witnesses. Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan told reporters that now there is no legal bar for the lower court concerned to continue trial proceedings in the case against Khaleda Zia. He also said that Khaleda Zia could file a leave to appeal
petition before the Supreme Court against an order of the High Court delivered on October 22.
On October 22, the High Court disposed of the petition with observations filed by Khaleda Zia seeking its directive for recording deposition of nine witnesses of state. Besides, the HC rejected an appeal filed for re-examining two witnesses of the case.
Later, on October 24, Khaleda filed petition with the Supreme Court against the HC order.
After a hearing, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain sent the petition to the full bench of the apex court for its hearing.
The ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21 million (2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
A J Mohammad Ali stood for Khaleda Zia while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan for the ACC.