Graft: Khaleda again appeals for case transfer

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today filed a petition with the High Court for transferring the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case against her from the Senior Special Judge’s Court-3.

In the petition, Khaleda also prayed to the HC to stay the trial proceedings against her in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Earlier, Khaleda submitted an application to Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah of Senior Special Judge’s Court-3 for transferring the case to the HC as Mollah was the ACC director general between 2010 and 2015. But the court rejected her appeal.

The BNP chairperson today submitted the petition to the HC challenging the April 13 rejection order.  

On April 14, Khaleda expressed no-confidence in another judge who was dealing with the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Opposing the petition, Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol said the BNP leader had earlier moved a petition with the High Court seeking the transfer of the case to any other court.

On March 8, the HC gave an order to transfer the case from the Special Judge Court-3 to the Senior Special Judge's Court, and asked the latter to dispose of the case in 60 days.

After the hearing, Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah fixed April 27 for placing Khaleda's self-defence statements in the case.