Zia Trust Case: Khaleda pleads not guilty

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday pleaded not guilty and sought justice while defending herself at court in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

She made the appeal after Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of the Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka read out the charges against her and asked how she pleaded.

In reply to a question, Khaleda told the court she would submit her statement of defence in writing and a list of her witnesses in the case.

After the hearing, the makeshift court at Bakshibazar fixed November 30 for the next hearing.

In 2011, Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four, including Khaleda, of abusing power to raise funds for the trust.

Khaleda had also placed similar statement in the Zia Orphanage Trust Graft case.

In July 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that had come as grants from a foreign bank.