Khaleda unlikely to appear before court today

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is unlikely to appear before a special court today for hearing the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases filed by the Anti Corruption Commission, said Sanaullah Miah, one of her counsels.

On March 31, Abu Ahmed Jomadar of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 asked her to appear before it today.

The counsel cited Khaleda's health reasons while talking to The Daily Star yesterday in this regard.

On Tuesday, Khaleda spent the majority of her day appearing before five separate Dhaka courts and secured bail in five cases, including a sedition case, added Sanaullah.

She, however, remained absent from the hearing on the two cases several times citing physical illness.

According to the charge sheet, Khaleda and three others abused power to collect Tk 6.19 crore for Zia Charitable Trust during the BNP-led government's tenure between 1991 and 1996.

On the other hand, the statement of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case says the BNP chief, her son Tarique Rahman and four others embezzled Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity that exists only on paper.