Khaleda asked to appear before court on Nov 23 in graft cases

A court here on Thursday asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on November 23 to place her self-defense statements in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

Special Judge Court-5 Judge Md Akhteruzzaman passed the order this afternoon as the BNP chief could not complete her self-defense statements in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case today and sought more time.

On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources abusing power.

ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also an investigation officer of the case, pressed the charges against the accused on January 16, 2012.

The ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK after securing bail, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21. 0 million (2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.

Source: unb