Graft cases: Khaleda to skip tomorrow’s hearing

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will skip tomorrow’s hearing in Zia Charitable and Zia Orphanage Trust corruption cases on health ground.

“Madam (Khaleda) is still unwell, she will not be able to appear before the court tomorrow,” Sanaullah Miah, a counsel for Khaleda, told The Daily Star.

The Special Judge’s Court set up in Bakshi Bazar area is scheduled to record statements of the witnesses in the cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

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

On the other hand, the statement of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case says the BNP chief, her son Tarique Rahman and four others embezzled Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity that exists only on paper.

On November 26, the BNP chief skipped the trial proceedings of the same court on the same ground. Earlier, she had skipped many dates of the trial proceedings citing multiple grounds including illness and security. 

The BNP chief returned from London after more than two months. She was attending treatments there staying with her eldest son and the party’s Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman.