Graft case: Khaleda challenges plea rejection orders

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today filed two separate petitions with the High Court challenging a lower court order that rejected her two petitions in Zia Charitable Trust graft case yesterday.

The petitions are: One for re-cross examination of the investigation officer of Zia Charitable Trust graft case while another for scrutinising the case dairy.

In the petitions, Khaleda prayed to the HC to stay the trial proceedings against her in the graft case, Raghib Rauf Chowdhury, a lawyer for Khaleda, told The Daily Star.

The hearing of the petitions may be held within a day or two, the lawyer said.

Citing from the petitions, he said the IO of the Zia Charitable corruption case Harunur Rashid was withdrawn from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2005 for incompetence.

The High Court and Supreme Court had upheld the ACC’s decision, he also said.

Harunur Rashid’s statement as an IO in Zia Charitable graft case is not acceptable, the lawyer added.

Earlier yesterday, a Dhaka court rejected the petition on re-examining the IO as it found “no ground”.

Lawyers of Khaleda submitted both the petitions before the court in presence of Khaleda, who appeared before the court set up at Bakshibazar.

On April 7, the High Court cleared the way for a lower court to continue the trial proceedings after rejecting Khaleda's petition.

On March 9, Khaleda challenged the legality of the appointment of Harunur Rashid, investigating officer of the case, saying that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had not published any gazette notice.

The ACC on August 8, 2011, filed the case accusing Khaleda and three others of abusing power in setting up the charity.

The other accused are Harris Chowdhury, Khaleda's former political secretary, Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary (APS) of Harris, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS of former mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka. Of them, Harris is on the run.