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Orphanage case goes to trial

Court accepts graft charges against Khaleda, Tarique, 4 others

Court Correspondent
A Dhaka court yesterday took into cognisance the charges against former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. her sonTarique Rahman and four others in a case for embezzlement ofTk 2.10 crore by forming Zia Orphanage lYust.
After hearing both the prosecution and defence, Judge ANM Bashir Ullah of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court took the decision in presence of Khaleda and two other accused, and fixed October 25 for next hearing of the case.
The court issued arrest warrants against former principal secretary DR Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Khaleda's nephew Mominur Rahman as they have been absconding since the case was filed.
The court also said proceedings of the case against Tarique would continue in his absence since he had earlier gone to London for treatment with permission from the Supreme Court (SC). fKUM KAOC I
During the hearing, Khaleda, also leader of the opposition in parliament, was permitted to sit in a chair in the court-. room.
’ Defence counsels submitted to the court four peti-tions-two for not taking into cognisance the charges against Khaleda and Tbrique. one for exempting Tarique from personal attendance and the other for upholding the bails of Khaleda and Tarique granted by the High Court.
Moving the petitions. Khandaker Delwar Hossain said the charges against Khaleda and Tarique are not tenable at this stage as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) did not get prior approval from the authorities concerned for filing the case. And it was filed as part of a conspiracy to harass them.
Moreover, there is a political motive behind the case, and it is intended to stop them doing politics. Delwar said.
He was assisted by Masud Ahmed Talukder and Sanaullah Miah.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Mosharraf Hossain Kajol opposed the defence contention saying the ACC got approval from the authorities concerned for filing the case. He appealed to the court to take the charges into cognisance.
Two of the accused-- former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque and Sharfuddin Ahmed- who were earlier granted HC bail were also present in the court yesterday.
During the hearing, defence lawyers raised a hue and cry when the SPP read out the charges in the case.
The court dropped from the charge sheet two persons-- Syed Ahmed alias Sayeed Ahmed and Gias Uddin Ahmed--as the investigation officer (IO) prayed for it finding that they were not involved in the incident.
ARRIVAL OF KHALEDA ^Several hundred leaders, workers and supporters of BNP and its front organisations gathered on the court premises and adjacent area to welcome the party chairperson. This caused a severe traffic congestion in the area.
They brought out small processions blocking the road from court area to Nawabpur crossing from 11:00am. As a result, hundreds of vehicles gotstuckupforhours.
The situation caused sufferings to commuters and residents of the court area in old part of the city.
Khaleda arrived on the
court premises at 1:1 Opm.
Senior leaders of BNP including Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain received the chairperson, and party men chanted slogans demanding withdrawal of the case.
Security was stepped up in the court area ahead of Khaleda's arrival. She left the court at about 2:30 pm amid tight security.
Police and party men escorted her car from the court premises to Siddikbazar area. Party activists and supporters also brought out processions at the time.
Before leaving the court building, the former premier waved to the crowd waiting outside it.
Party leaders present there included Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmad. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. TH Khan, Jamiruddin Sircar, Rafiqul Islam Mia. Sadeque Hossain Khoka. Selima Rahman. Shirin Sultana, Mirza Abbas. Moazzem Hossain Alai and Rehana AkhterRanu.