A Dhaka court yesterday asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on April 10 in a sedition case filed against her over her remarks on the number of Liberation War martyrs.

Metropolitan Magistrate Jakir Hossain Tipu passed the order granting a time petition by her.

In the plea, Khaleda's lawyer Sanaullah Miah said the BNP chief could not turn up for a court appearance yesterday due to her illness and she would come to the court at the next date of the hearing, if she was allowed.

The complainant appealed to the court to issue an arrest warrant for Khaleda for her absence despite being summoned on January 25 to appear before it yesterday.

However, the court did not pass any order on that.

The sedition case was filed on January 25 by Momtaz Uddin Ahmad Mehedi, a Supreme Court lawyer and member of Awami League's central committee, with the home ministry's approval.

In it, he alleged that Khaleda at a December 21 programme last year said, "There are controversies over exactly how many were martyred in the Liberation War. There are also many books and documents on the controversies".

Khaleda's statements drew widespread flak and sparked protest among pro-liberation quarters.

ZIA CHARITABLE CASE

A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned till March 10 the hearing on the Zia Charitable Trust graft case filed against Khaleda Zia and three others.

Meanwhile, lawyers for another accused, Monirul Islam Khan, cross-examined a witness, ACC Deputy Director Harunur Rashid and also the investigation officer in the case, for over three hours.

Later, Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge Court -3 fixed March 10 for next hearing.