Graft case: Khaleda to skip hearing again

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will once more skip the hearing of Zia charitable and orphanage trust corruption cases due to her “illness”.

“She is unwell”, Khaleda’s counsel Sanaullah Miah told The Daily Star.

Witnesses' statements in the charitable case are scheduled to be recorded tomorrow, according to the court sources.

Since December 3, Khaleda cited illness and security issues, among other grounds, and did not appear for the trial proceedings.

She last appeared before the special judge court-3 at Bakshi Bazar dealing with the cases on September 10, five days before flying to London for treatment and to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with family members. She returned on November 21.

According to the charge-sheet of Zia charitable case, Khaleda and three others abused power to collect Tk 6.19 crore for the trust during the BNP-led government's tenure between 1991 and 1996.

On the other hand, the orphanage trust graft case were filed against Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others for embezzling Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity which exists only on paper.

Anti-Corruption Commission filed the cases during the military-backed caretaker government in 2007.