Khaleda asked to appear before court April 7

A Dhaka court yesterday asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on April 7 in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

After completion of the cross-examination of Harunur Rashid, the investigating officer of the case, Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of Special Judge Court-3 passed the order.

On that day, the court will question Khaleda and two others about the statements placed by 32 prosecution witnesses.

The BNP chief has skipped her appearance before the court for 25 dates since September 10 last year.

Meanwhile, the HC yesterday adjourned the hearing until Sunday on a petition filed by Khaleda seeking cancellation of the proceedings.

The bench of Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Mahmudul Haque started the hearing on Wednesday.

On March 9, Khaleda challenged the legality of Harunur's appointment, saying that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has not published any gazette notice. ACC's lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that he submitted a copy during yesterday's proceedings.

The ACC on August 8, 2011 filed the graft case accusing Khaleda and three others of abusing power in setting up the charity. The other accused are Harris Chowdhury, Khaleda's former political secretary, Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary (APS) of Harris, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS of former mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka. Of them, Harris is on the run.