Khaleda gets time again in graft case

A Dhaka court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia till March 9.

The makeshift court of Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge Court-3 passed the order accepting a time plea from the defence.

The BNP leader started giving her statement in self defence on December 1, 2016, and yet to finish it.

Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Harunur Rashid lodged the Zia Charitable Trust graft 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.

On July 3, 2008, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna police station, accusing Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others for embezzlement of over Taka 2.10 crore.

Source: BSS