Khaleda wants new judge to preside over Zia Orphanage Trust graft case

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has once again asked for a new judge to preside over the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against her.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 6 August 2017, 12:10 PM
Updated : 6 August 2017, 12:10 PM

This is the fourth time that the former prime minister has cited her lack of confidence in the presiding judge in the case.

Khaleda’s lawyer Advocate Zamir Uddin Sarker made the plea before Justice Md Shawkat Hossain and Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder on Sunday.

The High Court will hear the matter on Monday, said Advocate Mahbub Uddin, one of the lawyers for Khaleda.

“The plea has been made out of fear of being denied justice,” he told bdnews24.com.

Judge Md Akhteruzzaman is currently presiding over the case.

A special court set up at Old Dhaka’s Bakshibazar is hearing two graft cases against Khaleda, involving Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust.

The Zia Charitable Trust graft case was filed by the ACC in 2010 against the BNP chief and three others for embezzlement of Tk 31.5 million.

The Zia Orphanage Trust graft case was filed in 2008. The ACC case accuses Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others of embezzling Tk 21 million.

Last month, Khaleda asked the court to grill 11 witnesses of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case once again.

The High Court rejected the plea and fixed Aug 3 for the next hearing. But on Aug 3, Khaleda’s lawyers said their client was in London for medical treatment.

On this, the ACC asked the High Court to scrap Khaleda’s bail. The High Court’s order on the matter is due on Monday.

ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood has claimed that the BNP chief was trying to drag the case unnecessarily.