A Dhaka court on Sunday deferred the recording of testimony in Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases against the Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia, and eight others till November 24.
Bashudev Roy of the Special Judge's Court-3, re-fixed the date in presence of Khaleda Zia as her lawyer Advocate Sanaullah Miah sought time because two petitions were pending with the Appellate Division for disposal.
On the other hand, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday fixed November 16 for hearing the leave to appeals filed by the BNP Chairperson in those graft cases. According to earlier order of the court, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia reached the make-shift court in Bakshi Bazar area in the capital around 11am and she appeared before the court.
A large number of leaders and activists of BNP crowded near the court premises carrying several banners, placards and festoons to welcome Khaleda Zia. They also chanted slogans demanding an end to harassment of Khaleda Zia in false cases. Security was beefed up in and around the court premises and the entry of people into the area was restricted to avert any untoward incident centering the BNP chairperson's appearance in the court.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the two cases in 2008 and 2011 against Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and seven others for their alleged embezzlement of Tk 2.1 crore.