Order on Khaleda's petition against indictment Wednesday
Order on Khaleda's petition against indictment Wednesday
The High Court today fixed Wednesday for passing order on BNP chief Khaleda Zia's petitions challenging her indictment in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases.
Meanwhile a Dhaka court has set tomorrow for recording statements of their witnesses in the two cases.
On March 19, the Special Judge’s Court-3 of Dhaka framed charges against Khaleda, and eight others in the cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, and also fixed April 21 for recording depositions from witnesses.
After the HC set the date, Khaleda’s lawyer AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon told The Daily Star that they will pray to the Dhaka court tomorrow for adjourning the proceedings of the cases.
The lower cannot record deposition of the witnesses against Khaleda Zia tomorrow, since her petitions are now pending with the HC, he added.
Meanwhile, ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star the lower court can record statements from witnesses in the cases against Khaleda tomorrow, since the HC has not stayed the proceedings against her.
The BNP chairperson on April 13 filed two separate revision petitions with the HC seeking cancellation of today’s order of Special Judge’s Court-3 of Dhaka that framed charges against her, her elder son Tarique Rahman and seven others in the two corruption cases.
Khaleda was indicted in both Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust corruption cases, and Tarique, senior vice-chairman of the BNP, in the Orphanage case.
On April 17, the HC bench of Justice Borhanuddin and Justice KM Kamrul Kader started hearing arguments on the petitions, and fixed today for their further hearing.
During hearing today Moudud Ahmed, Khandker Mahbub Hossain and AJ Mohammad Ali placed arguments on behalf of Khaleda Zia, while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Khurshid Alam Khan opposed her petitions.
The ACC in July 2009 filed the Zia Orphanage graft case against Khaleda, Tarique and four others for embezzling over Tk 2.1 crore by forming the "fake" trust. The commission filed the Zia charitable graft case in August 2011 against Khaleda and three others for abusing power in setting up the charity.