A court here on Wednesday deferred hearing to January 7 on the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and eight others.Responding to a time petition, Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Special Judge’s Court-3 passed the order in presence of accused-petitioner Khaleda Zia, also a former Prime Minister.Khandker Mahbub Hossain, Khaleda’s lawyer and also president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), said they sought more time as the Judge is new and they are not prepared for hearing on the case as most of their senior lawyers are out of the country.Earlier, at least 30 people, including a ruling party MP, were injured in a clash between BNP and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists near Bakshibazar makeshift court following BNP chairperson’ s appearance before it to face trial.Khaleda Zia reached the court set up on the Bakshibazar Alia Madrasah playground around 12:25pm amid the clashes between the BNP and BCL activists and went out of the court around 1:15pm.Chhabi Biswas, an MP from Netrakona-1, came under attack during the melee and her car was set ablaze.On December 18, the government appointed Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar after transferring Judge Bashudev Roy, who had been dealing with the two corruption cases, following Khaleda Zia’s repeated requests over changing the incumbent Judge apprehending not to get fair trial.The Special Judge’s Court-3 on March 19, framed charges against the former Prime Minister, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now staying in London, and seven others in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.On August 8, 2011, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also an investigation officer of the case, pressed charge-sheet against the accused on January 16, 2012.Besides, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman, and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore which came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.On August 5, 2010, ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid submitted a charge-sheet to the court against six people, including the BNP chairperson.
