DHAKA: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Sunday skipped a court appearance again in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

Showing security reason due to hartal, Khaleda’s lawyer advocate Sanaullah Mia said his client could not appear before the court. 

On behalf of Khaleda Zia, her lawyer filed an appeal seeking court’s deferment order on trial procedures in the cases.

The hearing on the appeal started at 11:10am at the makeshift court, set up at Alia Madrasa Ground.

Earlier on October 13, Judge Basudev Roy of special judge court asked Khaleda Zia to appear before it on October 26 (Sunday) after her lawyers had filed a petition expressing no-confidence on the judge.

However, the court, on September 22, recorded deposition partially of ACC deputy director Harun-or-Rashid, the first witness and also plaintiff of Zia Orphanage Trust Case. Then Judge of the court Basudev Roy adjourned the deposition submission till October 13. 

On Mar 19, charges were framed against eight including Khaleda and her elder son Tarique Rahman in the two cases accusing them of embezzlement.

On May 12, Khaleda Zia filed the writ petition challenging legality of appointment of the judge who framed charge against Khaleda and six others at trial court.

Later on June 19, HC single bench of Justice Kazi Razaul Huq rejected the writ.

On July 07, Khaleda Zia filed two petitions to appellate division of the Supreme Court challenging the HC order that rejected writ challenging the legality of judge appointment.

She also sought stay order on trial proceedings of the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases in the trial court.

On August 8, 2011, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, for 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: 1208 HRS, OCT 26, 2014