Zia Orphanage graft case: Arguments to start Dec 19

BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s trial on charges of embezzling funds of an orphanage trust moves a step further as the court has scheduled arguments of the prosecution and defence after it finished hearing the former prime minister’s statement defending herself.

On Tuesday, Khaleda surrendered to court and moved bail petitions in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases as a warrant was issued for her at the previous hearing.

She had skipped the Nov 30 hearing citing security reasons over a shutdown called by left parties to protest against the latest power price hike.

The BNP chairperson was scheduled to resume her defence statement in the orphanage graft case on that day, but her counsels pleaded for time, when the court ordered her arrest and scheduled the hearing of arguments in the orphanage graft case.

On Tuesday, her counsels moved petitions for bail, to allow the resumption of defence statement and a halt to the order to present arguments on Dec 5, 6 and 7.

The court granted bail, rescinded its order on hearing arguments and said it would hear the defendant’s statement.

In her three-hour-long statement on Tuesday, Khaleda said she has never been on the Zia Orphanage Trust’s board and was not involved either personally or as prime minister with the trust and its transactions.

“The plaintiff claims I have formed the Zia Orphanage Trust through my two sons and a relative Mominur Rahman.

“That's what is usually claimed by my political opponent, the prime minister and some of her Cabinet colleagues. These are all made up,” said the three-time former prime minister.

On Tuesday, the court wrapped up the prime suspect’s statement defending herself after hearing it for the seventh day.

Earlier in her statement in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case involving charges of embezzlement of Tk 21 million, Khaleda had said no fund of the trust had been embezzled and it was kept in a bank.

She had also claimed the ruling Awami League "framed her on false charges to throw her out of politics by declaring her ineligible to run in the next parliamentary elections".

During a hearing on Nov 16, she said she has her doubts about getting justice.

Claiming that the government forced Surendra Kumar Sinha to resign as chief justice, she had said, “The country is going through a state of ‘no justice’ in place of justice due to reckless activities of the ruling quarter.”

With Tuesday’s hearing, the court finishes hearing statements and cross-examination of all the defendants and witnesses.

It has set Dec 19, 20 and 21 for hearing arguments by the defence and prosecution, after which the only remaining proceedings of the trial will be the announcement of the verdict.