Court upholds Khaleda\\\'s arrest warrant

FE Team | Published: March 05, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

A Dhaka court has upheld an arrest warrant for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in cases filed by the ACC, report agencies.
The arrest warrant against her in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust fund graft cases was issued on Feb 25.
After hearing Khaleda's pleas to withdraw the warrant, to uphold her bail and defer the hearings, the court of Dhaka's Third Special Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar told the defence that his previous orders remained effective. The court also fixed April 5 for further hearing in the cases.
It also allowed defence counsel Sanaullah Mia to represent another accused Tarique Rahman at the court in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in his absence.
Keeping the petition with the record, Judge of the court set up on the Bakshibazar Alia Madrasah playground passed the order after hearing arguments from both sides in absence of Khaleda.
Special Judge Jamadar declined to entertain the petition by Khaleda's lawyers seeking withdrawal of the arrest warrant it issued on February 25, saying no one can file such a petition remaining fugitive.
Sticking to her guns, Khaleda Zia, also a former Prime Minister and the principal accused in the cases, did not appear before the court despite having the warrant on her head as the government allegedly failed to fulfill her three preconditions -- ensuring adequate security, granting bail and safe return to her Gulshan political office, where she has been staying since January 03.
Responding to the court, ACC lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol said, "As Khaleda Zia didn't appear before the court, no one can file such petitions on her behalf."
Last of all, the judge adjourned the proceedings till April 05.