Graft cases: Arrest warrants issued against Khaleda

Arrest warrants have been issued against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

Dhaka Special Court-5 judge Md Akhtaruzzaman on Thursday cancelled the ad interim bail of Khaleda and issued arrest warrant against her as she failed to appear before it in two cases.

However, the BNP chief’s lawyer Md Zakir Hossain verbally sought time until 2pm from the Judge saying that Khaleda could not reach due to a hartal enforced in Dhaka by left parties.

On 3 July 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna police station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21.0 million (2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.

On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station, against four, including Khaleda, of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources through abuse of power.