Hearing on graft cases against Khaleda Aug 10

Ziaul Haque Munna’s lawyers have started cross-examining the Zia Charitable Trust graft case’s plaintiff after Khaleda Zia’s lawyers finished questioning him.

After Monday’s proceedings, Judge Abu Ahmed Jamaddar of Dhaka’s Third Special Judges Court set Aug 10 for the next hearing in the case.
 
Zia Orphanage Trust graft case will also be heard on the same day.
 
The BNP chairperson arrived at the special court in Bakshibazar around10:15am to attend the hearings of two graft cases against her.
 
Her lawyer, Khandker Mahbub Hossain, cross-examined Zia Charitable Trust graft case plaintiff ACC Deputy Director Harun-Ur-Rashid for the third day.
 
Later, lawyers of Munna questioned the plaintiff.
 
The higher court scrapped Khaleda’s petition for holding fresh hearing in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
 
Lawyer Hossain pleaded for more time before hearing in the case as, he said, his client could not appeal since she did not get the documents of the order.
 
Bar Council Vice President Hossain requested the court to set a hearing date after the council’s election on Aug 26.
 
The judge said the chief justice directed to complete the cases soon and if questioning began, it should be finished as per the rule. “I can give one week’s time.”
 
He set Aug 10 for the next hearing and adjourned the court.

The judge asked the journalists to refrain from publishing the exact questionings.
 
Khaleda’s lawyer Hossain said, “The proceedings of major important cases, including Agartala Conspiracy Case, had been published in the media word for word. So, where’s the problem in this case?”
 
He argued, “Publishing all news is essential for transparency.”
 
Later, ACC lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajal said media published the news of important sensitive cases, including Bangabandhu killing and jail killing cases, word for word without any problem.
 
He said the judges then never opposed.
 
“I don’t know why the judge is now giving such direction.”
 
In 2008, ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against six including Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman.
 
It alleged that the defendants had embezzled Tk 27.1 million from funds meant for the trust, which reportedly came from a foreign bank.
 
In 2010, the anti-corruption watchdog sued the BNP chief and three others for embezzlement of Tk 31.5 million of the Zia Charity Trust.
 
The BNP claims the cases are politically motivated, a charge the government denies.