SC dismisses Khaleda's plea to examine 11 PWs in graft case

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today dismissed a petition of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to allow defence to examine nine prosecution witnesses (PWs) and re-examine two more in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

A five-member Appellate Division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah passed the order, paving way for continuing the proceedings of the trial at lower court, reports BSS.

The High Court on October 22, disposed of with observation Khaleda's plea to examine nine PWs. It also said there is no need of re-examination of the other two witnesses.

Khaleda later filed the plea against the High Court order.

The ACC on July 3, 2008, filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna police station, accusing Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others for embezzlement of over Tk 21 million brought from abroad for using for the welfare of the orphans.

The other accused in the case are former lawmaker Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's nephew Mominur Rahman.

The accused were indicted in the case on March 19, 2014.

The case is now pending before Dhaka fifth special judge court and the court is scheduled to hold hearing on November 16.