Khaleda says she won’t appear in court again in Zia Charitable Trust graft case

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has expressed her dissatisfaction over the trial proceedings inside the Old Dhaka jailhouse in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

“This court cannot continue like this,” said Khaleda who was brought to the special court in a wheelchair.

As the midday trial conducted by a special judge started on Wednesday, the former prime minister told the judge in the absence of her lawyers, “You can punish me for as long as you want, but I cannot come here in this situation. I know this court will not deliver fair justice.”

In less than half an hour after the proceedings, Dhaka-5 Special Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman adjourned the court and set the next hearing for Sep 12-13.

“My legs will swell if I keep sitting this way for long,” said Khaleda. 

“You can punish me for as many days as you want, but I cannot stay here for too long,” Khaleda told the judge.

Khaleda complained that her left leg is swollen almost to the level of paralysis. “My left hand is almost in the same condition.”

The BNP chief was apparently exasperated by the government notice for the special court that was issued just a day before the trial inside the jailhouse.

Khaleda expressed her anger over the notice as she spoke to the waiting reporters on her way out.

“I know I’ll never get justice from this court.”

Khaleda appeared in court at 12.10pm. The court started the day at 12.15pm and wrapped it up at 12.43pm.

She wore her signature pink sari to court. She was in white shoes and sat through the court proceedings in her wheelchair with a bottle of water and a box of tissue in front of her.

Before going back to her room, she spoke to the media. Her senior lawyers did not know about the move to transfer the court because the related notice was issued on Tuesday, a day before the hearing, she said.

ACC lawyer Kajal said they sent copies of the notice to Khaleda’s lawyers and he informed them by phone as well.

Special measures were put in place to tighten security around the jailhouse for the hearing.

The BNP has announced programmes protesting the relocation of the court. Khaleda’s lawyers have also sent a legal notice to the authorities challenging the validity of the move.  

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader defended the action saying the authorities considered that it was difficult for Khaleda to move at the age of 73. 

The ACC on Aug 8, 2010 prosecuted Khaleda and four others in the case accusing them of embezzling Tk 31.54 million from the Zia Charitable Trust.

The others accused in the case are Khaleda’s former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, his former personal assistant Ziaul Islam Munna, who is now the acting director (naval security and traffic) of BIWTA, and former Dhaka City mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka’s personal assistant Monirul Islam Khan.

The ruling Awami League leaders blame the defence for delaying the trial while the BNP leaders allege the government orchestrated the trial for political gains.