The High Court (HC) yesterday adjourned the hearing on the petitions filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her elder son Tarique Rahman till December 7 for staying the proceedings of Zia Orphanage Trust embezzlement case against them.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Rais Uddin passed the adjournment order upon a time prayer moved by Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.

He told the court that there was no urgency for hearing the petitions at this moment as the next date for petitioners' appearance before the trial court in connection with this case is January 10 next year.

He prayed to the court to adjourn the hearing on the petitions till January next year.

Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, who is now in London for treatment, filed two separate petitions through their lawyers with the HC on November 11 for staying the proceedings against them in the embezzlement case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Earlier, the HC granted them bail in the case and also issued separate rules upon the government and the ACC to explain why the proceedings against them in this case should not be scrapped.

ACC Deputy Assistant Director Harun-ur-Rashid filed the case against Khaleda, Tarique and five others on July 3 last year with Ramna Police Station in connection with embezzling over Tk 2.10 crore by forming the “fake” organisation Zia Orphanage Trust.

Barrister Rafique-Ul Huq was present for the petitioners in the court.