Court Correspondent :
The Prosecution yesterday claimed that they had proved BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s involvement in the Zia Charitable Trust Graft case in the Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka and demanded a seven-year imprisonment for the former premier.
Advocate Mosharraf Hossain Kajal said it before Judge Dr Md Akteruzzaman of the court. He also told the court, “She abused power and amassed wealth. The wealth was used for her personal interest.”
Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia submitted a written statement before the court seeking self-defence. She claimed that the prosecution failed to prove any of the charges, prosecution brought against her and sought acquittal.
She further claimed that the case was filed to demean and harass her and she is now a victim of unjust and unfortunate situation. “I know and you also understand that the case is being conducted to demean me under government orders through illegal means”, she told the court.
On August 8, 2011 the anti-graft watchdog, ACC filed the case with Tejgaon Model Police Station accusing four persons, including Khaleda Zia, on the charges of abusing power in setting up the Zia Charitable Trust.
On January 25, the same court fixed February 8 to announce the judgement of the Zia Orphanage Trust Graft case. The ACC filed with Ramna Model Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her son Tareque Rahman and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that had come as grants for orphans from a foreign bank.
