Three more prosecution witnesses gave depositions in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case yesterday, in the absence of the prime accused – BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Standard Chartered Bank officials Nowshad Mahmud, Amirul Islam and Alok Kanti Chakrabarty testified before Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Dhaka Special Judge’s Court 3. They were posted in the bank’s Motijheel branch on September 29, 2011.
With this, the court has recorded depositions of 13 prosecution witnesses out of 36.
The court adjourned the trial until October 21, granting a time petition filed by the defence to cross examine the witnesses.
Earlier in the day, the defence cross examined three witnesses who testified the previous day. They are then assistant general manager of Sonali Bank Prime Minister’s Office branch Amir Uddin, Deputy General Manager Dr Hafizur Rahman and Executive Officer Paritash Chandra Dey.
The court accepted two separate petitions regarding Khaleda Zia’s non-appearance before the court. She is in London for treatment.
Khaleda’s lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain alleged that the government was rushing the proceedings for political reasons which was denied by public prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajal.