Graft case: Khaleda asked to appear before court May 5

A Dhaka court today asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on May 5 to submit her statement against the depositions given by 32 prosecution witnesses in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge's Court-3 passed the order after Khaleda's lawyer Sanaullah Miah submitted a time petition before the court in the morning.

In his petition, the lawyer said he sought time from the court as Khaleda could not appear before it due to illness.

Earlier on April 17, the court fixed April 25 to hear Khaleda Zia's statements in the case.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case in August 2011 with Tejgaon Police Station, accusing four people including the BNP chief of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.

It also filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in July 2008 with Ramna Police Station, saying that Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK, and four others misappropriated more than Tk 2.10 crore that had come as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.