Charge framing deferred till Sep 13

A Dhaka court yesterday deferred till September 13 the hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, her elder son Tarique Rahman and four others in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.
Judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain of Special Judge's Court-3 passed the order after Khaleda's lawyer Taherul Islam Touhid submitted a petition seeking adjournment of the hearing.
In the petition, Touhid told the court that they could not bring any order from the Appellate Division on an earlier leave to appeal petition till October filed against a High Court (HC) division order.
The HC, in a verdict on December 14 last year, rejected a writ petition submitted by Khaleda to stop the proceedings against her in the case. The court also said the case proceedings will continue with the trial court.
The hearing on the leave to appeal petition remains pending with the Appellate Division after it adjourned the hearing on June 12.
The Special Judge's Court yesterday asked the defence to submit by September 13 any order of the Appellate Division on the petition.
Otherwise, the court will start charge hearing in the graft case.
Khaleda could not appear before it as she was physically ill, Touhid told the court.
Among the charge-sheeted accused, former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed were present in the court.
Tarique, also BNP senior vice-president, is now in London for treatment with permission from the Supreme Court.