Khaleda won\\\'t appear before court today

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday will not appear before a court, set up at Alia Madrasa premises in Bakshibazar in the city to prosecute her in 2 graft cases. BNP high-ups said Khaleda will skip Monday’s proceeding in the makeshift court for security reasons. Earlier, the court asked Khaleda Zia to appear before it on Monday for proceedings in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases. Khaleda Zia’s lawyer Advocate Sanaullah Mia said the BNP chief will not appear before the court set up near Dhaka Central Jail for security reason and she will seek its deferment order on recording deposition in the 2 cases. On Aug 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four, including Khaleda, for 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 Jan 16, 2012. Besides, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008, with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21 million which came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans, according to private TV channels.