Graft cases: Khaleda skips hearing again

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has skipped the trial proceedings of Zia Charitable and Zia Orphanage Trust corruption cases again due to her illness.

The BNP chief could not appear before a makeshift court at Bakshibazar in Dhaka today, her lawyer Taherul Islam Towhid told The Daily Star.

Earlier, Khaleda skipped the court hearing of the cases on August 10 showing the same reason.

Meanwhile, the Special Judge Court-3 adjourned the trial proceedings till September 3.

During today’s hearing, Special Judge Court-3 Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar recorded statements of the witnesses in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

THE CASES

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

On the other hand, the statement of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case says the BNP chief, her son Tarique Rahman and four others embezzled Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity that exists only on paper.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed both the cases.