Graft: Khaleda pleads not guilty, next hearing Nov 30

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today pleaded not guilty and demanded justice while delivering her self-defence in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

She made the appeal after Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of the Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka read out charges and asked her whether she was guilty or not.

In reply to a question, Khaleda Zia told the court she will place her self-defense statement in written format and submit a list of defense witnesses in the case.

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

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

In the meantime, she placed her self-defense 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 accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique, and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that had come as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.