Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia today appeared before a Dhaka court this morning to place her self-defence statement in connection with the Zia Charitable Trust graft case. She appeared before the special judge court-3 set up at Bakshibazar of Dhaka, reports the Daily Star.
Khaleda was asked to appear before the court today to place her self-defence statements against the statements of 32 prosecution witnesses given during the trial.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge Court-3 issued the order on Khaleda on May 19.
The Anti Corruption Commission on August 8, 2011 filed the graft case accusing Khaleda and three others of abuse of power in setting up the charity.
Khaleda further challenged the legality of appointment of Harunur Rashid, investigating officer of the case, saying that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had not published any gazette notice regarding this.
On April 17, Khaleda appeared before the court but sought time to submit herself defence statements. She was absent from the court on two executive dates.
The other accused are Harris Chowdhury, Khaleda’s former political secretary, Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary (APS) of Harris, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS of former mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.
