Verdict in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against Khaleda set for Feb 8

A court in Dhaka has concluded the trial in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and kept its verdict pending for Feb 8.

The former prime minister and five others, including her son Tarique Rahman, stand accused of embezzling Tk 21 million in foreign donation meant for the Trust.

On Thursday, the Court of Dhaka’s Special Judge-5 Md Akhteruzzaman set the date to deliver the verdict after hearing the closing arguments.

The graft watchdog started the case nine years ago, in July 2008 during the military-installed caretaker regime.

Over a year later, charges were pressed against six people, including Khaleda and Tarique, who serves as the senior vice-chairman for the BNP.

The four others are former BNP MP Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former principal secretary to the PM Kamal Uddin Siddique and Maminur Rahman, nephew of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.

In March 2014, the trial started after all of them were indicted.

Former MP Kamal and businessman Ahmed are in jail while an arrest warrant is out for Tarique, who has been in the UK for the last nine years and has warrants on him in several others cases.

Former bureaucrat Siddique and Maminur Rahman have been tried as fugitives.

Khaleda appeared in Thursday’s hearing, when the court wrapped up the trial and fixed Feb 8 to give its decision.

The three-time prime minister faces up to life in prison if found guilty of the charges.

“The case has no merit. We believe Khaleda Zia will be acquitted,” said her chief counsel Abdur Rezak Khan.

Prosecutors, however, believe otherwise.

“We have been able to prove the charges and are confident that all of the six accused will be awarded with the highest punishment,” said ACC counsel Mosharraf Hossain.

Lawyers for the ACC and the defence counsels presented arguments in 16 working days. The court is now set to deliver the verdict after hearing it for 236 working days. 

After the recording of prosecution witnesses’ statements and questioning of the witnesses, Khaleda delivered a statement defending herself for six days.

Lawyer Mosharraf presented arguments on behalf of the ACC on the first day of hearing of arguments on Dec 19.

Lawyers for Khaleda presented arguments for 10 days. They are former law minister Moudud Ahmed, former attorney general AJ Mohammad Ali, former additional attorney general Rezak, former speaker Jamiruddin Sircar and Khandaker Mahbub Hossain.

Khaleda moved the High Court several times to have the case dismissed. The High Court changed the judge of this case thrice following Khaleda’s pleas showing no-confidence in the previous judges.

She also faced arrest warrants thrice for skipping hearing.

The ACC and the Awami League leaders have alleged Khaleda and her lawyers had tried to delay the trial.

The BNP alleges the government is trying Khaleda to settle political scores.

The party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government has already sealed the fate of Khaleda in the case.

Khaleda, while defending herself in the court, said the trial was part of a conspiracy by the ruling party to get her convicted and make her ineligible to run in the next general elections.

She also expressed doubt whether she would get justice, alleging that the ruling coalition leaders were influencing the trial with their comments.

The trial of Khaleda and four others in Zia Charitable Trust case is also under way in the same court and is at the final stages.

The hearing of arguments in this case is scheduled to take place on Jan 30, 31, and Feb 1.