Khaleda gets more time to submit statement on graft charge

A Dhaka court on Thursday granted more time to BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to finish submitting her statement in her defence as her trial in the Zia Charitable Trust graft is underway.

“Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Special Judge Court-3 deferred the hearing till January 26, accepting a time plea from Khaleda Zia,” a court official said.

The BNP chief started placing her self-defence statement on December 1 but failed to finish it on that day and was allowed time on four scheduled dates after that.

Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Harunur Rashid lodged the case against Khaleda and four others with Tejgaon Police Station on August 8 in 2011 for embezzling Taka 31.5 million from the trust.

A total of 32 prosecution witnesses including the investigation officer have testified in the case.

The three other accused in the case are BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, former DCC mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka`s personal secretary Monirul Islam Khan, Khaleda`s former political secretary Haris Chowdhury and BIWTA director Ziaul Islam Munna.

Source: BSS