ZIA TRUST FUND GRAFT CASES: Khaleda appears in court

Former prime minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia appeared in court on Thursday during cross-examination of the Anti Corruption Commission official who had filed the Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Charitable Trust fund graft case.
Harun-or-Rashid, deputy director of ACC, was cross-examined by Khaleda’s lawyers at a special court in Dhaka, for the second day. Harun, also complainant in the Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Orphanage Trust case, was earlier cross-examined on June 18, following his testimony on May 25.
Both cases are being heard at Special Judge’s Court-3, by judge Md Abu Ahmed Jamadar, at a makeshift courtroom at Central Jail Parade Ground.
Khaleda’s lawyer Khandaker Mahbub argued both cases were politically motivated and that there was haste in trying to complete the trials.
The duration of the alleged crime in the Charitable Trust fund graft was 2001 and 2006 when Khaleda was prime minister, but the case was filed on August 8, 2011, pointed out Mahbub.
Harun admitted the case was filed after the present government assumed power, but argued there was no political motivation.
Harun said the ACC had received complaints from one Dr Farzana Ahmed, and that Tk 7.8 crore had been misappropriated from the fund. He told the court that they found evidence that Khaleda Zia had ‘misused’ her power when she was prime minister, in collecting funds, as the managing trustee of the charitable trust founded in October 2004.
During cross-examination, Harun admitted he had investigated a number of cases filed against political leaders during the tenure of the Fakhruddin-led interim government.
Mahbub argued in court that a number of cases had been filed against the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, all of which had been withdrawn as soon as she became Prime Minister. He cited some 15 graft cases filed during the period, Bangabandhu Memorial Graft Case, BEPZA Consultancy firm graft case, Meghna Ghat power plant graft case, MiG-29 graft case, Novo Theatre graft cases, Niko graft case and Barge-mountain power plant graft case, all of which ‘vanished’ after she became PM. Harun said he was not aware of those cases.
The public prosecutor Musharraf Hossain Kajal also claimed ACC had not withdrawn any case against anyone. Mahbub pointed out ACC had not appealed against the stay order of the High Court in many of those cases.
Khaleda Zia sought the deposition of the complainant in the Orphanage Trust case be expunged on the ground that it was recorded in her absence. The defence counsel challenged the court proceeding and moved to the higher court.
The court adjourned the trials of both cases till August 3.
Khaleda’s another counsel AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon told the court that the prosecution was hastening the completion of the trial. Khokon pointed out Harun had made a deposition in another case as complainant with the same court two years back, and he was yet to be cross-examined till now.

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