Khaleda ‘to skip’ tomorrow’s graft hearing

Star file photo of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to skip tomorrow’s trial proceedings of Zia Charitable and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases for what her lawyer said illness.

Khaleda cannot appear before the court of Special Judge's Court-3 of Dhaka tomorrow due to illness, her lawyer Sanaullah Miah told The Daily Star.

With this, Khaleda will skip the trial proceedings in the cases for 18 consecutive dates. She last appeared before the court on September 10, 2015.

Earlier on February 4, Khaleda’s counsel Abdur Rezak Khan concluded cross-examining the investigation officer of the case Harunur Rashid, who is also deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the last witness of the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case in her absence.

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

On the other hand, the orphanage trust graft case were filed against Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others for embezzling Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity which exists only on paper.

Anti-Corruption Commission filed the cases during the military-backed caretaker government in 2007.