BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will appear before a Dhaka court on Sunday for hearings in Zia in two graft cases -Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust.
Khaleda’s lawyer Md Sanaullah Miah confirmed this to the Dhaka Tribune.
On Thursday, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Khaleda’s chief counsel in the two graft cases, said BNP chief might appear before a Dhaka court on April 5 for hearings in the two corruption cases if assurances for her security are given by the authorities.
“She is respectful of the law and is willing to appear in court, but her car and several BNP leaders were attacked the last time she went to the makeshift court at Bakshibazar on December 24... The government must ensure that she will not be attacked again when she goes to court,” said Mahbub, who is also the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
Khaleda has not ventured out of her Gulshan office since January 3, launching the ongoing nationwide transport blockade and a spate of hartals from its premises.
She did not leave the office even to attend national observances like Martyr’s Day and Independence Day.
Witness depositions in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases are scheduled for April 5.
Even though arrest warrants were issued against her on February 25, Khaleda has not appeared before the court citing security reasons.
On March 4, the court of Dhaka’s Third Special Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar set the date for the hearing after scrapping a defence plea to withdraw the arrest warrant for the three-time prime minister.
A no-confidence petition against the judge which seeks to have the case heard in another court is pending with the High Court. It is expected to be heard this month.
