DHAKA: The High Court on Thursday rejected the writ petition filed by Khaleda Zia challenging legality of judge appointment of Zia Charitable Trust and Orphanage Trust graft cases.
An HC single bench of Justice Kazi Reza-ul Haque rejected the writ after two days hearing in the noon.
There is no legal barrier to run the graft cases after the court rejected.
Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases are now subjudice under the court of Special Judge-3 Basudeb Roy which has established near Dhaka central jail.
The deposition of the cases will be started from July 9 as the defendant sought time.
Earlier, a Dhaka court deferred to July 9 the recording of deposition in Zia Charitable and Orphanage Trust graft cases against BNP chief Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and six others.
Judge of Special Tribunal Dhaka-3 Basudeb Roy fixed the new date in response to time plea by defense.
Khaleda’s lawyers filed the time petition with the court saying that a revision petition is pending with the High Court seeking to quash the trial court indictment order against the BNP chief in the two graft cases.
On May 12, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenged the indictment against her in the trust graft cases
On March 19, the Special Judge Court-3 framed charges against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, its senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman and six others rejecting their time petition in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.
On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.
ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also an investigation officer of the case, pressed charges against the accused on January 16, 2012.
Besides, 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 and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore which came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
BDST: 1710 HRS, JUN 19, 2014
