Khaleda appears before court

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Charge sheet in graft case accepted-3
Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia along with five others, including her elder son Tarique Rahman, stands trial in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case as a court in the city Monday accepted the charge sheet in her presence, reports UNB.
Metropolitan Sessions Judge ANM Bashir Ullah passed the order accepting the charge sheet as Khaleda, also the incumbent Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, appeared before his court at about 1:15pm amid foolproof security.
The court fixed October 25 for framing charges against the six accused in the case-one of several hundred graft cases filed amid a massive purge against corruption during the rule of the past military-backed caretaker regime following the 1/11 changeover.

The court also issued arrest warrants against Khaleda Zia's fugitive nephew Mominur Rahman and former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui as they did not appear before the court.
As her counsel had explained the reason for her non-appearance in the court, judge Bashirullah deferred the hearing to September 7 with directive to the prosecution lawyer to "ensure security" for the ex-Premier.
Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Tk 21-million-scam case on July 3, 2008 against the six persons, including Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman.
Among the accused, former MP Kazi Salimul Haq Kamal and Sarfuddin Ahmed, who are also free on bail in the case, were in the dock.