DHAKA: A Dhaka court deferred to September 3 the recording of deposition in Zia Charitable and Orphanage Trust graft cases against BNP chief Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahnam and six others.

Special Judge-3 Basudeb Roy fixed the new date in response to time plea by defense.

The court also issued verbal order to Khaleda asking her to appear before it on that day or asked defense lawyers to submit order of appellate division.

The deposition in the two cases was scheduled to begin on Sunday.

Khaleda’s lawyers filed the time petition with the court saying that a revision petition is pending with the Supreme 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 has 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: 1203 HRS, JUL 27, 2014