A Dhaka court has fixed October 29 to deliver its verdict against Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia and three others accused in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
Over seven years after filing of the case, Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Dhaka Special Judge Court 5 fixed the date on Tuesday after rejecting a petition filed by Khaleda’s lawyer seeking adjournment of the hearing.
The defense lawyers submitted the time petition mentioning that they will challenge the High Court order that cleared the way for holding the trial in absence of Khaleda.
Meanwhile, the court also extended bail to Khaleda in this case until October 29, accepting a bail petition.
The BNP chairperson is now undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) under a special medical board formed by the government.
She has been serving a five-year jail sentence, having been convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8.
“If convicted, Khaleda Zia will face maximum seven-year imprisonment as per law in the case,” said Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol.
However, Khaleda’s lawyer Md Sanaullah Miah said: “It is an illegal order; we will move to the Supreme Court against the lower court order of verdict delivery.”
Earlier, prosecution lawyers submitted a petition seeking delivery of the verdict without concluding arguments as the defense lawyers did not place arguments on a number of scheduled dates in the case.
The court in its order on Tuesday said the accused did not place arguments on various excuses, and they are delaying, so the court accepted the prosecution petition and fixed the date of verdict.
The court also mentioned that there was no scope to place arguments in the case as per law, but it was given to the accused for the interest of ensuring justice.
The ACC had filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case against Khaleda and three others with Tejgaon Police Station in August 8, 2011.
According to the case statement, the former prime minister and three others abused their power and raised Tk3.15 crore for the trust from unknown sources.
On January 16, 2012, ACC submitted a charge sheet against four accused including Khaleda. The trial started on March 19, 2013.
After recording depositions of witnesses in the case, on December 1, 2017, Khaleda Zia appeared before the court and placed her self-defense statement in the case.
Rejecting allegations of corruption in her statement, the BNP chief claimed herself innocent and demanded justice in the case.
The three others accused in the case are Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to prime minister Khaleda between 2001 and 2006; Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary to Harris; and Monirul Islam Khan, APS to former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.
Of the accused, Harris Chowdhury is absconding. He received a life sentence in the August 21 grenade attack cases. The two others accused, Munnan and Monirul are now in jail.