Pandemonium in court as Judge takes lunch break

Pro-BNP lawyers created a commotion in the courtroom at one point of the hearing of the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case when the judge returned from a lunch and prayer -break leaving the accused Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister, in the courtroom on Thursday.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge Court-3, especially erected on the playground of Alia Madrasa at Bakshibazar in the old part of Dhaka to try the case, adjourned the hearing from 1:40pm to 2:30pm for launch and Zohr prayers.
As soon as the judge returned to the courtroom after the lunch break the pro-BNP lawyers started shouting in front of the Ejlas.
At one point of the commotion a former attorney general, AJ Mohammad Ali, told the court, "You have violated human rights of Begum Zia, you took launch but she did not take any food."
In the meantime pro-BNP lawyer Hossain Ali Khan Hasan banged a table in front of the judge. The court warned the lawyer, who later sought apology of the court.
Former Dhaka Bar president Sanaullah Miah and Supreme Court Bar secretary Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon also told the court that it was a violation of human rights because they could not make arrangements for the launch or prescribed medicines for the BNP Chairperson. She also could not say her Zohr prayers.
For the lack of medicine and food, she became ill.
Khaleda Zia's lawyers submitted a petition to cross examine ACC Director Noor Ahmed in the case.
The court allowed the petition and fixed January 12 for cross examination. Earlier, on December 22, the special court deferred the hearing of Zia Charitable Trust graft case against BNP chief Khaleda Zia and others and fixed January 5 for submission of the rest of Khaleda's defence statement.
On August 8 in 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abuse of power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.
Zia Orphanage Trust graft case was filed by the ACC on July 3 in 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK after securing bail, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore which was donated by a foreign bank for orphans.