BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia filed a petition with the High Court seeking its directives on the lower court to expunge the deposition given by the investigation officer of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in her absence.

Khaleda submitted the petition yesterday through her lawyer, which the High Court may hear this afternoon, AKM Ehsanur Rahman, a counsel for Khaleda, told The Daily Star. 

She prayed the HC to pass an order upon the lower court to expunge deposition of Harun-or-Rashid and to record his fresh statement in her presence at the court.

Khaleda also prayed to the court to issue a rule seeking explanation on why recording of the statement of the IO in her absence should not be declared illegal.

She urged the HC to stay the proceedings of the case until disposal of the petition.

In her petition, Khaleda said the Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka has recorded the statement of Harun-or-Rashid, also director of Anti-Corruption Commission, in her absence for six days.

As per relevant rule, the court has to take deposition a witness in presence of the accused but a Dhaka court did not follow the rule, she said.

The ACC had filed the two graft cases including Zia Orphanage Trust in 2008 and 2011. According to the charge sheet in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, Khaleda, Tarique and four others embezzled Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity that exists only on paper.