Khaleda seeks stay on trial proceedings

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday sought a High Court order on the trial court allowing her lawyers to cross-examine five prosecution witnesses of Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

She made the prayer by filing a revision petition with the HC. In the petition she also sought a stay on the trial proceedings against her in the corruption case.

In the petition, Khaleda prayed to the HC for issuing an order to the trial court allowing her lawyers to cross-examine five prosecution witnesses of the case.

Citing the petition, Advocate Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan, a lawyer for Khaleda, told The Daily Star that the defence lawyers could not cross-examine five prosecution witnesses during the trial of the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

The five prosecution witnesses need to be cross examined for fair trial of the case, he said, adding that a Dhaka court on June 8 rejected a petition seeking permission for cross examining the five prosecution witnesses.

The revision petition has been filed with the HC challenging the Dhaka court's June 8 rejection order, he said.

Advocate Zakir also said the HC might hold hearing on the petition after reopening following its ongoing annual vacation. The HC will reopen on July 3.

On August 8, 2011, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda, of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources abusing power.

According to the charge sheet of the 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.