DHAKA: A Dhaka court set up at Alia Madrasa field Wednesday fixed September 17 for recording deposition of the witness in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.
Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission Harun-or Rashid, also plaintiff of the cases, appeared before the court to give his deposition against the accused.
But Judge Basudeb Roy of the Special Judge Court-3 passed deferenment order in response to time plea filed by Khaleda Zia’s lawyers.
As per the appeal, Khaleda Zia could not appear before the court as she is busy in important meetings and party activities.
Lawyers Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Sanaullah Mia and Masud Ahmed Talukder moved for Khaleda Zia while Mosharrof Hossian Kazol stood for ACC.
Earlier on September 3, a Dhaka court deferred until Wednesday the recording of deposition against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.
According to the petitions filed on that day, BNP chief had earlier submitted four leave-to-appeal petitions with the appellate division challenging the legality of four High Court orders, which are now pending for hearing.
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 May 12, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has challenged the indictment against her in the 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: 1138 HRS, SEP 10, 2014