Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia unlikely to appear for next graft hearing

Dhaka : Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia is unlikely to appear before the court tomorrow in connection with Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

Sanaullah Miah, one of her counsels, said that she will not appear citing health reasons, reports the Daily Star.

Khaleda had yesterday spent her day appearing before separate Dhaka courts and secured bail in five cases, including one sedition case.

She had several times in the past remained absent from hearing in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases citing physical illness.

In the Zia Charitable graft case, the charge sheet says that Khaleda and three others abused power for collecting Tk 6.19 crore for Zia Charitable Trust during the tenure of BNP-led government’s between 1991 and 1996.

On the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, the charge sheets say that the BNP chief, her son Tarique Rahman and four others embezzled Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity that exists only on paper.

Both the cases have been filed by Anti-Corruption Commission. (ANI)