Zia Orphanage Trust: Defence presents arguments for third day

The defence in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against BNP chief Khaleda Zia has presented its argument for the third day.

On Tuesday, counsel Abdur Rezak Khan presented his arguments for over four hours at the Dhaka Special Judge Court-5.

Khan, who represents Khaleda, said he would resume the arguments on Wednesday.

Three other lawyers on Khaleda’s defence team—Khandker Mahbub Hossain, AJ Mohammad Ali and Barrister Jamiruddin Sarker—are also set to present their arguments after Khan.

Khaleda arrived at the court five minutes prior to the start of court proceedings at 11:30am.

Anti-Corruption Commission Lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol presented the state’s arguments at the first hearing of arguments on Dec 20.

Judge Akhtaruzzaman has set aside Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to hear the arguments of the defence.

Khaleda has already presented her defence testimony, which lasted seven days and ended on Dec 5.

Of the other defendants, former MP Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed are out on bail while on Jan 26 this year, a warrant was issued for Khaleda’s son Tarique Rahman, who has been in the UK for the last nine years and has warrants on him in several others cases.

The two others accused in the case—former principal secretary to the PM Kamal Uddin Siddique and one Maminur Rahman, nephew of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, are absconding.

The Anti-Corruption Commission started the case in 2008 accusing Khaleda and five others of embezzling Tk 21 million from foreign aid collected for the Zia Orphanage Trust.

The court started the trial in 2014, around five years after the investigator submitted the charges. The final verdict will follow the hearing of the state and defence arguments.