The Appellate Division says BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia can be tried in absentia in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain-led bench issued the order on Monday morning after throwing out a leave-to-appeal filed by the defence counsel, reports Bangla Tribune.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against Khaleda, and three others, with Tejgaon police on August 8, 2011; they are accused of abusing their power and raising Tk3.15 crore for the trust from unknown sources.
Others accused in the case are: Khaleda’s former political secretary Harris Chowdhury; Harris’ assistant private secretary Ziaul Islam Munna; and Monirul Islam Khan, the assistant private secretary to former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.
Harris is absconding while the others are behind bars.
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Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court 5, set up in Old Dhaka Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road, is scheduled to deliver its verdict in the case on Monday.
The court’s Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman, on September 20, said the trial could proceed in Khaleda’s absence—while she refused to appear before the court.
Khaleda, serving a five-year jail term in a corruption case, is currently undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
The defence moved the High Court on September 27 against the judge’s order. However, the High Court rejected the petition on October 14 and said trial proceedings could proceed against Khaleda in her absence.
Later, the defence moved the Appellate Division against the High Court order. A hearing on the appeal had taken place on Sunday.