Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Thursday adjourned the hearing of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s two petitions until April 1 regarding the change of trial court for two graft charges and a stay on the arrest warrant against her.
Justice Md Rezaul Haque of the two-member HC bench adjourned the hearing, while the other judge Justice Md Khasruzzaman was not present.
In the order, the court said it would hear the petitions after the court’s vacation, which means the hearing will take place not before April 1, the scheduled start after vacation. Earlier, the HC bench fixed Thursday to hear the petitions of Khaleda Zia on March 5.
Khaleda Zia filed the petitions on January 28 with the HC against Abu Ahmed Jamadar, the judge of the Special Judge Court-3, expressing her apprehension that she would not get justice from his court.
In the petition, Khaleda sought the HC’s direction to transfer the cases to another judge’s court.
Abu Ahmed Jamadar issued arrest warrant against Khaleda Zia, turning down her bail petition on February 25.
Later, Khaleda Zia also placed a supplementary petition with the HC March 3, seeking a stay on her arrest warrant.
Khaleda Zia is facing the charges of misappropriation of money from Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust. Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) earlier filed the cases against the BNP Chairperson.
ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman along with other four persons in 2008. It alleged that Khaleda was involved in misappropriation of Taka 21 million from the funds of Zia Orphanage Trust.
ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust case in 2011, alleging that the BNP Chairperson along with three others was involved in the embezzlement of Taka 31.5 million.
