Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia pleaded not guilty in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case before a court yesterday.
The former prime minister defended herself when she appeared before a makeshift court at Bakshibazar in Old Dhaka, claiming complete innocence in the corruption case. Giving her the opportunity to defend herself, the judge read out the overview of the evidence of 32 witnesses against her at the beginning. Khaleda Zia was then asked whether the allegations were true. She replied that the allegations were not correct.
She told the court that she would not submit any argument in writing—rather she would deliver an extempore speech. In reply, the court allowed her to make her statement as long as she wanted, adding that all her speeches would be noted down.
Khaleda said the entire nation was now assaulted and oppressed. “The whole of Bangladesh has been made a big jail today. Everywhere there is a sense of instability and deep

insecurity. Thousands of workers of the Opposition are behind bars in false and fabricated cases,” she added.
The BNP chief alleged that over four lakh of her party workers and leaders are facing 25,000 cases, and they are staying away from their houses fearing torture and harassment.
Judge Abu Ahmed Momadar of special judge court-3 concluded the hearing and set December 8 as the next date of hearing.
Earlier, the BNP chairperson reached the court premises around 12:30pm to take part in the hearing to defend herself against allegations in the charitable trust graft case.
On November 10, two advocates of Khaleda Zia had sought time for two weeks for Khaleda Zia to defend herself. The court gave them time till November 24, but she did not appear before the court on that day and the lawyers sought time again. The court then fixed December 1 for the hearing.
The Zia Charitable Trust case was filed by the Anti-corruption Commission on July 3, 2008, with Ramna police station. According to the charge-sheet, Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman and four others embezzled Tk. 2.1 crore of the trust.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday asked Khaleda Zia to appear before the court on January 9, 2017, in connection with 10 cases related to sedition, sabotage and explosive substances.
Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah of Dhaka metropolitan sessions judge’s court fixed the date after hearing 10 separate time petitions submitted by her lawyer, Muhammad Sanaullah Miah. The court said she would be indicted in absentia in 10 cases against her if she fails to appear before the court on January 9 next year. Her lawyer sought adjournment of the hearing, saying that his client could not appear before the court as she has to appear before another court in connection with the Zia Charitable Trust case to place her statements in self-defence. The cases are eight sabotage cases at Darussalam, Mirpur, and one sedition case, while the last one is related to explosive substances.