Order on running trial in absence of Khaleda Sept 20

Staff Correspondent: A Dhaka court on September 20 will deliver an order on whether the trial proceedings in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case will continue in absence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Judge MD Akhteruzzaman of the Special Judge Court-5 fixed the date on Thursday.

Khaleda's lawyer Sanaullah Mia and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Mosharraf Hossain took part in the day's hearing.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is serving her 5-year jail sentence in Zia Orphanage Trust case in old central jail. Because of her physical illness the Law Ministry issued a notification to set up a makeshift court in the prison to conduct the trial of Zia Charitable Trust graft case against her.

However, the jail authority failed to produce her before the makeshift court as she refuses to do so over and again.

Under the circumstances, the prosecution and defense placed statements respectively on how the trial or whether the hearing of defense arguments will continue.



risingbd/Dhaka/Sept 13, 2018/Mamun/Mukul