‘Graft case facts against Khaleda based on forgery’

Lawyers of Khaleda Zia today argued that the prosecution’s documents and facts on Zia Orphanage Trust graft case were based on “forgery” and has no substance.

AJ Mohammad Ali, one of the lawyers for the BNP chairperson, placed the argument before the Special Court-5 in Dhaka’s Bakshibazar area.

After end of today’s argument, Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman adjourned the hearing till tomorrow morning.

Concluding today’s argument, Moudud Ahmed, a senior counsel of Khaleda Zia, told reporters that they strongly believe that Khaleda Zia will be acquitted in the case as it was based on “forged documents”.

On December 19, Chief Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol of the Anti-Corruption Commission made appeal for life imprisonment after placing his closing argument in the case.

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No fund stolen

In July 2008, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that had come as grants for orphans from a foreign bank.

According to the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, the then prime minister Khaleda and the other accused through unlawful practices embezzled over Tk 2.10 crore by establishing the trust that exists only on paper.

The complainant alleged that on June 9 in 1991, a grant of $1,255,000, equivalent to about Tk 4.45 crore at the time, was transferred from United Saudi Commercial Bank to Prime Minister's Orphanage Fund -- a fund that was created by the then premier Khaleda shortly before the transfer of the grant as part of the embezzlement scheme. Only Khaleda administered the fund.