A Dhaka court has asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on November 23 to finish her self-defence statement in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.
Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-5, set up at the parade ground of Dhaka Central Jail Directorate in Bakshibazar area, on Thursday also extended her bail until the next hearing date.
The BNP chief, who arrived at the court around 11:40am amid tight security, rejected the accusation of embezzling money from the Zia Orphanage Trust during her one-hour-long self-defence statement.
As she could not complete her statement in last five consecutive hearings, including Thursday’s, the court set November 23 to finish it.
Khaleda’s self-defence in the case started on October 19.
On Thursday, the court also concluded recording further statements of witnesses in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case and fixed November 23 for Khaleda to start her self-defence in this case.
On August 8, 2011, the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Charitable Trust case with Tejgaon police station, accusing Khaleda and three others of abusing power in raising funds and misappropriating Tk3.15 crore.
Before that, on July 3, 2008, the ACC had filed the Orphanage Trust case with Ramna police station, accusing Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others of embezzling over Tk 2.10 crore.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
