Deposition in Khaleda cases deferred

A Dhaka court on Wednesday deferred recording of testimonies in two graft cases against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The deposition in the ‘Zia Charitable Trust’ and ‘Zia Orphanage Trust’ cases was to start today. Special Judge-3 Basudeb Roy fixed the new date on Junuary 19 following a hearing of a defence plea seeking more time. All accused except Khaleda Zia appeared in the makeshift court set up in Alia Madrasa in Bakshibazar area in the city. Khaleda Zia last appeared before the court on March 19 when the charges were framed against her in the cases. The former Prime Minister sought time on 41 occasions in the Zia Orphanage Trust case and 11 times in the Zia Charitable Trust case. On February 16, the court issued an ultimatum to Khaleda, ordering her to appear before it on March 19 or face arrest. In 2008, ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust case against six including Khaleda and BNP’s Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman. Chargesheet against the six was submitted in 2010. In 2011, the ACC sued the BNP chief and three others for siphoning off Tk 31.5 million of the Zia Charity Trust. The charge-sheet was field against the four in 2012, according to bdnews24.com.