BNP chief Khaleda skips Zia Charitable Trust graft case hearing

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has skipped the hearing of Zia Charitable Trust corruption case, saying her illness made it difficult for her to attend it.

Dhaka’s Third Special Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar heard cross-examination of the plaintiff and accounts of witnesses on Thursdayin absence of the BNP chief.

The judge set Sept 3 for the next hearing.

The special court at Bakshibazar is hearing the cases over siphoning off Tk 52.5 million from Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust. The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the cases in 2008 and 2011 respectively.

In the Zia Charitable Trust case, the anti-corruption watchdog accused the BNP chief and three others for embezzlement of Tk 31.5 million.

Last year, following the indictment in the case on Mar 19, Khaleda moved the High Court challenging its validity and legality of appointment of the judge framing the charges. However, both the pleas were scrapped.

On Thursday, Khaleda’s lawyer Zakir Hossain said a petition was filed to continue the hearing in absence of the former prime minister.

The hearing started with cross-examination of the plaintiff ACC Deputy Director Harun-Ur-Rashid.

Another accused Monirul Islam’s lawyer TM Akbar questioned Rashid.

Police Sub-Inspector, who recorded the case, Mahfuzul Haque testified later.

Accused Ziaul Islam Muna’s lawyer Aminul Islam interrogated him.

Senior official of the Sonali Bank Insan Uddin Ahmed and the bank’s cash department official Shajahan Khan, witnesses of the state, also testified.

The defence counsels, including Khaleda’s lawyer Mahbub Uddin Khokon, left the court at one stage of the hearing in protest against 'interruption' by ACC lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajal in the testimony of Sonali Bank’s Ahmed.

They alleged Kajal tried to give an instruction during the recording of Ahmed’s statement.

The judge, however, termed as ‘unprecedented’ the walkout by the defence lawyers.

They returned during the hearing of Khan’s account.