Graft trial to continue in Khaleda's absence

A Dhaka court has decided to continue trial proceedings of Zia Charitable Trust corruption case at old central jail in the absence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Judge Court-5 passed the order upon a petition submitted by the prosecution.

The petition was filed on September 13, seeking completion of the trial in the absence of Khaleda as she did not appear before the court in the last several months due to illness.

After the jail authorities informed the court about Khaleda's unwillingness to appear before it, the court on September 12 adjourned hearing of the case, saying that it would hear the following day whether it should continue its proceedings in the absence of her.

Previously, the trial used to be at a makeshift court in Bakshibazar area, but the law ministry on September 4 issued a gazette notification, mentioning that the trial in the graft case would be held at Old Dhaka Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road. The decision, it said, was made taking Khaleda's security into consideration.

On February 8, the same special court awarded Khaleda five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and sentenced her elder son Tarique Rahman, now acting BNP chairman, and four others to 10 years' imprisonment each.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station in August 2011, accusing Khaleda and three others of abusing power to raise funds for the trust from unknown sources.

Source: thedailystar