Zia Orphanage graft case: SC rejects Khaleda’s leave to appeal

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has rejected the leave to appeal filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking fresh recording of deposition of witnesses in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. A five-member bench led by acting chief justice Abdul Wahhab Miah passed the order on Thursday. On Monday, the apex court concluded the hearing and set November 9 to deliver the verdict. Badrudduza Badal, counsel of Khaleda Zia, said the Appellate Division rejected the leave to appeal filed against the High Court order that disposed the petition filed by Khaleda Zia for the fresh recording of deposition of witnesses. On October 30, the Supreme Court passed “no order” on a petition filed by Khaleda Zia and cleared way for the continuation of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. Later, Khaleda filed the leave to appeal. On October 22, the High Court disposed the petition filed by Khaleda Zia seeking its directive for recording deposition of nine witnesses of state. It also rejected an appeal filed for re-examining two witnesses of the case. On October 24, Khaleda filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the High Court order. After a hearing, Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain sent the petition to the full bench of the apex court for its hearing. The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna police station on July 3, 2008 accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman – now living in the UK after securing bail, and four others for misappropriating over Tk2.10 crore that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.