Orphanage Graft Case: SC clears way for trial of Khaleda Zia

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court order that cleared the way for the Senior Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka to continue trial proceedings of Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC headed by Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, who is discharging responsibilities of the chief justice, dismissed a leave to appeal petition filed by Khaleda challenging the HC order.

There is no legal bar for the Senior Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka to continue trial proceedings of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against Khaleda following the apex court order, Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star.

The SC also fixed Thursday for passing order on her another petition seeking its order to allow her lawyers to further cross-examine nine prosecution witnesses of the case and a stay on its trial proceedings.

On August 20 this year, the HC disposed of with some observations a petition filed by Khaleda for transferring the case from the court of Special Judge-5 Md Akhtaruzzaman to another court. 

She recently filed a leave to appeal petition with the SC, challenging the HC order and seeking a stay on its trial proceedings.

On July 3, 2008, the ACC filed the case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her elder son Tarique Rahman and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.

Of the six accused, Khaleda, former BNP lawmaker Salimul Haq Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed are on bail, while the others, including Tarique, are absconding.

On August 6 this year, the BNP chief filed a revision petition with the HC for transferring the case from the court of Special Judge-5 Md Akhtaruzzaman to another court, apprehending that she will not get justice from Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman, as his court in July verbally ordered to arrest his lawyer barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon when her lawyers prayed for adjournment of its hearing.

Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali, advocate Zainul Abedin, barrister Bodruddoza Badal and barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon appeared for the BNP chief.