Khaleda graft cases: Court adjourns hearing till Oct 15

A Dhaka court today adjourned the hearing of trial proceedings in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and eight others till October 15.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka fixed the date after the BNP chief’s lawyer submitted two petitions seeking time.

The lawyer of Khaleda filed two other separate petitions for Khaleda’s non-appearance before the court today.

Meanwhile, the court recorded statements of two witnesses, who are officials of Sonali Bank Ltd, in connection with the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

On September 10, Khaleda appeared before the makeshift court at Bakshibazar to attend the hearing of the graft cases.

Before this, she was absent from appearing before the court for three consecutive days, showing health problems.

On September 10, counsels for Khaleda completed cross-examination of three witnesses in connection with the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

According to the charge sheet of the Zia Charitable Trust graft case, Khaleda and three others abused their power to collect Tk 6.19 crore for the trust during the BNP-led government's tenure between 1991 and 1996.

As per the statement of Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, the BNP chief, her son Tarique Rahman, and four others embezzled Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity that exists only on paper.