Graft case: Khaleda asked to appear before court Nov 23

A Dhaka court today asked BNP Chief Khaleda Zia to appear before the court on November 23 for placing her further self-defense statements in two graft cases.

Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of the Special Judge Court-5 set up in the city’s Bakshi Bazar area also extended Khaleda Zia’s bail until that day.

She gave her self-defense statement in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case for an hour today and will continue the next day.

The court also closed recording statements of the witnesses in the Zia Charitable Trust Graft case and fixed the same date for placing Khaleda’s self-defense statement in the case.

In July 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station 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.

Three years later, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon police, accusing four people, including Khaleda, of abusing power to raise funds for the trust from unknown sources.