Khaleda asked to appear in court Jan 6

 

Khaleda Zia Sta

A Dhaka court on Tuesday asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on January 6 in connection with Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
The court also fixed January 6 for passing an order whether it will take the charges against Khaleda into cognisance.
Judge Mohammad Zahirul Haque of the Senior Special Judges' Court in Dhaka passed the order after defence submitted a petition seeking an adjournment of the hearing.
In the petition, Masud Ahmed Talukder, a counsel for Khaleda, told the court that Khaleda could not appear before it today as she was engaged in national important activities.
Earlier on November 27 last year, the court warned that it would not allow any more time to Khaleda as she skipped the hearing for the eighth time.
Khaleda last appeared in court on February 2 last year only to secure permanent bail in the case.
On November 27, the court fixed January 1 to hold the hearing after the lawyer told the court that they would not file any more time petition in future.
The court on Tuesday also extended the bail to two other accused in the case -- Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary (APS) of BNP leader Harris Chowdhury; and Monirul Islam Khan, APS of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka -- till January 6.
Harris Chowdhury, former political secretary of Khaleda, is the other accused in the case.
Khaleda and three other persons were sued for abusing power in raising funds from unknown sources for the charitable trust. The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on August 8, 2011.
Khaleda earlier skipped the hearing on March 18, April 29, May 31, July 1, August 5, August 28, and October 1, 2012.