Khaleda exempted from court appearance for today

A Dhaka court today exempted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from appearing before the court today in the proceedings of the two graft cases against her.

However, the court rejected her two other pleas seeking adjournment of recording statements in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of special Judge court-3 passed the orders after Khaleda’s counsel moved four petitions seeking the BNP chief’s exemption from court for today’s proceedings citing her confinement and adjournment of recording deposition.

The court adjourned the proceedings till January 15.

The proceedings of the case are being carried out at a makeshift court in Dhaka’s Bakshibazar where a skirmish broke out the last time Khaleda Zia attended the trial with supporters of BNP and the ruling Awami League clashing for over an hour.

The BNP chief had sought protection in that regard.

However, Khaleda Zia has been inside her Gulshan office since Saturday night ‘confined’ and barred from leaving the premises by law enforcers.

The government and police administration repeatedly claimed she was not under confinement and that the arrangement was made for her security purpose.

However, she was kept wedged inside when she tried to attend BNP’s January 5 elections’ first anniversary protest programme what the party said was democracy killing day.