Trial deferred again until June 19

FE Team | Published: May 22, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

A Dhaka court has again deferred the start of trial against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and seven others until June 19 in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases, reports UNB.
Judge Basudev Roy of the Special Judge Court-3 fixed the date anew Wednesday following a time petition filed by the defence lawyers at the makeshift court on the premises of Bakshibazar Alia Madrasha.
On May 7, the trial of Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable and Orphanage Trust graft cases was shifted to the makeshift court from Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges court.
Khaleda's lawyer Sanaullah Miah filed the time petition with the court saying that a revision petition is pending with the High Court (HC) seeking to quash the trial court indictment orders against the BNP chief in the two graft cases.
Earlier on April 21, the same court deferred until Wednesday the start of trial in the two cases.
On April 13, Khaleda Zia filed a revision appeal with the HC seeking to quash the lower court indictment orders against her in the two graft cases.
She also sought a stay order on the further trial court proceedings.
On March 19, the Special Judge Court-3 framed charges against Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and seven others rejecting their time petition in the two cases.
On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon thana accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.
ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also an investigation officer of the case, pressed charges against the accused on January 16, 2012.
Besides, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008, with Ramna thana accusing Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK after securing bail, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21 million which came as grants for orphans from a foreign bank.
On August 5, 2010, Harunur Rashid submitted a chargesheet to the court in the case against six people, including Khaleda Zia.