Verdict in second graft case against Zia on Oct 29

Dhaka: A Bangladesh court on Tuesday set October 29 as the date for its verdict in the second graft case against jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia, two days after the high court ruled that trial proceedings could continue in her absence as she had declined to appear in the case citing her illness.

Special Court judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman announced the date after rejecting a plea by Zia’s lawyer to adjourn the hearing as they were preparing to file a petition challenging the high court’s verdict before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

A Bangladesh high court on Sunday ruled that the lower court can continue with the trial proceedings in the case of embezzlement of funds of the Zia Charitable Trust, a charity run by the BNP leader, in Zia’s absence. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had filed the case in 2010, accusing Zia and three others of embezzling 31.54 million Taka from the Trust. 

Zia, 73, whose BNP is the main opposition outside parliament, is by serving a five-year jail term after being convicted in a case of embezzlement of funds of an orphanage named after her late husband president Ziaur Rahman in February. At present, she undergoing treatment at a government hospital for various ailments on a high court order. 

Chief prosecution lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol, representing the graft watchdog in the case, had on September 26 requested the court to set a date for verdict as Zia was “unwilling” to appear before it and her lawyers were not coming up with their arguments in the case.

“The defence lawyers for the past two and half years are dilly-dallying on different pleas refraining from placing their arguments. They are seeking time today as well instead of presenting their arguments in the case. The ACC prayer seeking the date of verdict pronouncement is therefore granted (hereby),” the judge said while announcing the date of verdict.

The BNP has alleged that the trials were politically motivated and it was a move to debar Zia from contesting elections scheduled at the end of the year, an allegation denied by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League-led government.