I’m innocent: Khaleda

Denying the Zia Orphanage and Charitable Trust graft allegation, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today claimed that she did not commit any offence and give any benefit to anyone by abusing power during her tenure.

“I’m innocent. I’m  worthy of getting acquittal of the graft charges,” Khaleda said this in her last day’s self defence statement during the hearing of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case before a special judge court in Bakshibazar area of Dhaka.

Khaleda, also a former prime minister, said, “The allegations brought against me are totally politically motivated, fabricated and unproven. I am denying these allegations boldly.”

Claiming that she was not a member of the trustee board of the Zia Orphanage or Zia Charitable Trust, Khaleda said, “I was not personally involved in forming the trust, raising its funds and other activities.”

“I didn’t gain personally by forming the trusts and help anyone to do so immorally rather when I was prime minister, I have discharged my duties upholding honesty,” Khaleda said.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on August 8, 2011 filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon police accusing four people, including Khaleda, of raising funds for the trust from unknown sources through abuse of power.

The ACC also filed Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna police accusing Khaleda, her elder son Tarique Rahman and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.1 crore that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.