SC to hear appeal in Zia Charitable case today

The Supreme Court (SC) has deferred until today (Monday) for hearing two leave-to-appeal petitions challenging the HC verdict that acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and two others in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case, reports UNB.

A three-member tribunal led by Senior Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam passed the deferment order on Sunday after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted a petition.

ACC Lawyer Asif Hossain represented the state in the court while Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal, advocate Aminul Islam, and Jakir Hossain stood for the BNP chairperson.

Earlier on February 23, the prosecution and the ACC submitted separate petitions challenging the acquittal of Khaleda Zia in the case.

On November 27 last, the HC acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and two others in the Zia Charitable Trust case.

The HC also scrapped the lower verdict that sentenced Khaleda and two others in the same case Two others who got acquittal were Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary to Harris Chowdhury, ex-political secretary of then prime minister Khaleda Zia, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS to former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.