Appear before court or face music

A Dhaka court yesterday warned that legal order would be passed if BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia fails to appear before it on April 13 for placing her self-defence statements in connection with the Zia Charitable Trust graft case. 

Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka passed the order after Khaleda's lawyer Jamiruddin Sircar submitted a petition seeking adjournment of the hearing.

In the petition, Sircar said their client Khaleda, accused in over 25 criminal cases, could not appear before the court due to her illness.

Meantime, another Dhaka court yesterday set April 6 for placing Khaleda's self-defence statements in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah of the Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order after a petition seeking adjournment of the hearing was filed by Khaleda, said Zia Uddin, one of her lawyers.

Earlier on March 8, the High Court ordered to transfer the Zia Orphanage case to the court from the Special Judge Court-3 after Khaleda filed a writ petition.

The HC also asked the trial court to complete the trial proceedings in 60 days from receiving the order.

In both the cases, the court during the trial recorded statements of 32 prosecution witnesses including complainant of the cases.