Dismayed, a Dhaka court warned BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her absence during the proceedings in two corruption cases yesterday saying that her bail might be revoked if she failed to appear before it on the next scheduled date.
Judge Md Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Special Judge’s Court 3 said as the court would follow local and international laws, the three-time former premier might not get bail next time.
The judge made the remarks after Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutor Musharraf Hossain Kajal sought legal action against Khaleda for “ignoring” the bail condition.
None of the senior defence lawyers were present at the court on behalf of Khaleda yesterday and instead they filed an application seeking exemption from her personal appearance only for the day. The petition said Khaleda would definitely appear in the next date.
Without giving any order on the plea, the judge suggested that Khaleda file an appeal seeking exemption to let the trial continue smoothly.
On April 5, the same court granted Khaleda bail until yesterday after she surrendered along with the other accused before the court, nearly 40 days after it had ordered her arrest.
The court yesterday recorded cross-examination of the plaintiff, ACC Deputy Director Harun-or-Rashid, in the Zia Orphanage Trust fund embezzlement case.
Harun also testified in another case filed over the alleged embezzlement of fund of the Zia Charitable Trust.
The plaintiff described before the court how a large sum of money was collected from different “beyond known sources” and “misappropriated.”
He accused Khaleda’s former political secretary Abul Harris Chowdhury and his assistant private secretary Ziaul Islam Munna, and then Dhaka city mayor’s assistant private secretary Monirul Islam Khan for collecting the money for the Zia Charitable Trust fund.
The plaintiff said Tk1.35 crore was deposited in the fund in the name of Metro Makers Developer Limited.
“But, in interrogation, Metro Makers Developer Limited Managing Director AFM Jahangir said neither he nor his firm made any payment. They even did not donate to the fund,” Harun said.
During investigation, the plaintiff said they had found misappropriation of Tk7.8 crore from the fund. “Apart from this, Tk1.24 crore was illegally withdrawn from the fund in the name of buying a piece of land in Kakrail from one Suraiya Khan.”
After recording his deposition, the court adjourned the trial until May 25.
Defence counsel Aminul Islam later told the court that they were yet to get the documents from the prosecution needed to cross examine the plaintiff. The court, however, said they documents were already given to them.
Aminul then said they had not received the copy of the resolution made on March 28, 2004 and the 17 deeds related to the cases.