Khaleda to remain in court during verdict announcement

Staff Correspondent: A Dhaka court is expected to deliver its verdict against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and five others in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on Thursday.

Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Court-5 of Bakshibazar in Dhaka on January 25 fixed the date to hand down the verdict, after the prosecution and defence counsels completed their 16-day closing arguments in presence of Khaleda.

The main accused in the case will appear in the court during the announcement of the verdict, according to her lawyer Sanaullah Mia.

The Anti-Corruption Commission had filed the graft case with Ramna Police Station in July 2008, accusing Khaleda and five others of misappropriating over Tk 2.1 crore that had come from a foreign bank as grants for orphans.

According to the case document, then (1991-1996) prime minister Khaleda Zia opened an account named “Prime Minister's Orphanage Trust” with the Ramna branch of Sonali Bank.

On June 9, 1991, $126,000 (Tk 4,44,81,216) was deposited in the account from United Saudi Commercial Bank, but the money was not spent for any orphanage in between June 9 and September 5 of the same year, it said.

The Zia Orphanage Trust was set up by Khaleda's two sons and a nephew. It was registered on September 5, 1993.

A total of Tk 2,33,33,500 was given to the trust on November 13, 1993, to establish an orphanage in Bogra, reads the FIR.

The money was deposited in the Trust account on November 15 that year and Tk 4 lakh was withdrawn from it on December 4, the FIR stated.

Later, the money was transferred to the accounts of two other accused -- then BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed.

 

risingbd/Dhaka/February 7, 2018/Mamun Khan/A K Azad