Verdict in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against Khaleda set for Feb 8

A court in Dhaka has concluded the trial in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and kept its verdict pending for Feb 8.
The former prime minister and five others, including her son Tarique Rahman, stand accused of embezzling Tk 21 million in foreign donation meant for the Trust.

On Thursday, the Court of Dhaka’s Special Judge-5 Md Akhteruzzaman set the date to deliver the verdict after hearing the closing arguments.

The graft watchdog started the case nine years ago, in July 2008 during the military-installed caretaker regime.

Over a year later, charges were pressed against six people, including Khaleda and Tarique, who serves as the senior vice-chairman for the BNP.

The four others are former BNP MP Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former principal secretary to the PM Kamal Uddin Siddique and Maminur Rahman, nephew of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.

In March 2014, the trial started after all of them were indicted.Former MP Kamal and businessman Ahmed are in jail while an arrest warrant is out for Tarique, who has been in the UK for the last nine years and has warrants on him in several others cases.
Former bureaucrat Siddique and Maminur Rahman have been tried as fugitives.

Khaleda appeared in Thursday’s hearing, when the court wrapped up the trial and fixed Feb 8 to give its decision.The three-time prime minister faces up to life in prison if found guilty of the charges.

“The case has no merit. We believe Khaleda Zia will be acquitted,” said her chief counsel Abdur Rezak Khan.

Prosecutors, however, believe otherwise.

“We have been able to prove the charges and are confident that all of the six accused will be awarded with the highest punishment,” said ACC counsel Mosharraf Hossain.