Khaleda gets time in graft case

BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia today was granted more time to finish placing her statement in self-defence in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

"Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Special Judge Court-3 adjourned the
proceedings till December 15 as Khaleda Zia pleaded for time," a court official said.

The court has asked the defence to submit their list of witnesses on the next hearing date.

Pleading not guilty in the case, Khaleda Zia started placing her
statement on December 1. She also pleaded to produce witnesses to vouch for her, on that day.

Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Harunur Rashid lodged the case against Khaleda and three others with Tejgaon Police Station on August 8, 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 other three accused in the case are BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka, Khaleda`s former political secretary Haris Chowdhury and BIWTA director Ziaul Islam Munna.

Source: BSS