Trial begins in Khaleda’s absence
Trial in two corruption cases against Khaleda Zia -- Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases -- began today through the recording of the deposition of a witness in the BNP Chairperson's absence.
Partial deposition of plaintiff Harun-ur-Rashid, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), was recorded at Judge Bashudeb Roy of Special Judge’s Court-3.
The trial is being held at a makeshift court in Bakshibazar, Dhaka.
Earlier in the day, the court accepted separate petitions filed by the defence seeking Khaleda’s exemption from personal appearing before the court citing security reasons.
After recording the plaintiff's deposition in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, the court fixed October 13 for next hearing.
ZIA ORPHANAGE CASE
The ACC accused Khaleda, Tarique and four others of embezzling Tk 2.1 crore by forming the Zia Orphanage Trust that exists only on paper.
The other four accused are former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Khaleda's former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's nephew Momenur Rahman.
Of them, Kamal and Momenur are on the run.
The complainant alleged that a grant of $1,255,000 (around Tk 4.45 crore that time) was transferred from the United Saudi Commercial Bank to the Prime Minister's Orphanage Fund created by the then premier Khaleda shortly before the transfer was made on June 9, 1991.
It was done as part of the embezzlement scheme, and only Khaleda administered the fund, added the complainant.
ZIA CHARITABLE TRUST CASE
During the four-party alliance government's tenure, Khaleda and three others abused power to set up a Charitable Trust named after Ziaur Rahman, according to the commission.
The other three accused are Harris Chowdhury, Khaleda's former political secretary, Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary of Harris, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS of former Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.
Harris is absconding while Monirul and Munna are on bail. The court issued arrest warrant for Harris yesterday.
The ACC mentioned that the money spent for establishing the trust was collected from different sources, using the influence of the office of prime minister in 2005.
Comments