Dhaka, Sep 12 (Just News): A special court set up at the old Dhaka central jail on Nazimuddin Road today adjourned the hearing of Zia Charitable Trust case after prosecution informed that BNP Chairperson is not interested to appear before the court.
Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of the Special Judge Court-5 adjourned the hearing of the case after the prosecution informed the court about Begum Khaleda Zia’s unwillingness to appear before it.
The judge said the court will hold a hearing tomorrow on whether it should continue its proceedings in absence of Khaleda Zia.
Previously, the proceedings used to take place at a makeshift court in Bakshibazar area but on September 4, the law ministry issued a gazette notification, saying the proceedings in the Zia Charitable Trust case would be held at the old central jail on Nazimuddin Road.
During the first hearing at the old central jail on September 6, Khaleda Zia was produced before the court where she expressed a lack of confidence in the special court trying the graft case.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Charitable corruption case with Tejgaon Police Station in August 2011, accusing Khaleda Zia and three others of abusing power to raise funds for the trust from unknown sources.
On February 8, the same special court awarded Khaleda Zia five years' rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust case and sentenced her elder son Tarique Rahman, now acting BNP chairman, and four others to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment each.
The court also fined them a total of Tk 2.10 crore, saying all the six convicts have to pay the fine in equal amounts.
