Khaleda ‘won’t appear’ for graft hearing tomorrow

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is not likely to be appearing before court tomorrow in connection with Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

Sanaullah Miah, one of her counsels, cited Khaleda’s health reasons to tell The Daily Star this morning that she will not be appearing before court tomorrow.

Yesterday, Khaleda spent the majority of her day appearing before separate Dhaka courts and secured bail in five cases, including one sedition case.

She however, remained absent from hearing in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases several times before citing physical illness.

According to the charge sheet of the Zia Charitable graft 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.

On the other hand, the statement of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case says the BNP chief, her son Tarique Rahman and four others embezzled Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity that exists only on paper.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed both the cases.