Khaleda Zia on way to court

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has started from her Gulshan residence for the Special Court-5 set up in city’s Bakshibazar area for the verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

She started for the court around 11:45am amid a tight security.

A huge number of BNP leaders and activists gathered around Khaleda Zia’s motorcade and chanted slogans while escorting her to the court premises.

On completion of the defence arguments, the Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Court-5 fixed the judgement date on January 25 in presence of Khaleda Zia.

The prosecution on December 19 concluded argument in the case and sought the highest punishment for Khaleda and other accused.

On January 16, Khaleda’s defence arguments ended with the defence lawyers praying to the court for her acquittal.

The ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, who is now living in the UK after securing bail, and four others for misappropriating over 21 million that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.

Four other accused are former BNP lawmaker Salimul Haq Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former principal secretary to the PM Kamal Uddin Siddique and Mominur Rahman, nephew of late President Ziaur Rahman.

Kamal Uddin Siddique and Mominur Rahman have been absconding.

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