Deposition in Khaleda cases deferred again

A Dhaka court has again deferred hearing to record testimony in the ‘Zia Orphanage Trust’ and ‘Zia Charitable Trust’ graft cases against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The deposition was to take place in a makeshift court at the Alia Madrasa in old Dhaka on Thursday.

Special Judge-3 Basudeb Roy set July 9 as the new date following a defence petition seeking more time.

Earlier the deposition was to be held on May 21.

Defence counsel Sanaullah Miah said they had moved the High Court challenging the legality of the appointment of Judge Roy.

On May 25, an HC bench of Justices Farah Mahbub and Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo issued a split verdict on the plea, following which the chief justice sent the writ to a third bench.

The hearing is to be held at the third bench on Thursday.

“That’s why we have prayed to stop the deposition,” the lawyer said.

Khaleda on May 12 challenged the legality of appointment of Judge Basudeb Roy who indicted her in the ‘Zia Orphanage Trust’ and ‘Zia Charitable Trust’ graft cases on Mar 19.

She also sought a stay order on the proceedings of the cases.

After a two-day hearing, Justice Farah Mahbub issued a ruling and ordered a freeze on the proceedings of the cases, while Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo wanted to scrap the petitions.

As per rule, the matter was forwarded to the chief justice who assigned Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque’s bench to hear the pleas.

The former prime minister had moved the High Court challenging the indictment but the court dismissed her plea.

The Anti-Corruption Commission in 2008 filed a case against six, including Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman, for allegedly embezzling Tk 21 million from ‘Zia Orphanage Trust’ funds, which reportedly came from a foreign bank.

Charges were pressed against them two years later.

In 2011, the ACC accused the BNP chief and three others of pocketing Tk 31.5 million from the ‘Zia Charitable Trust’.

The national anti graft agency prosecuted the four in a chargesheet in 2012.