Khaleda trial proceedings to continue despite absence: Court

A Dhaka court on Thursday ordered that the trial proceedings in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case will continue at the Old Central Jail in absence of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of Special Judge Court-5 passed the order following a petition submitted by the prosecution.

Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol filed a petition on 13 September to deliver the verdict in the case seeking completion of trial in the absence of Khaleda as she did not appear before the court for the last several months due to her illness

The court fixed Thursday the date to issue an order in this regard.

On 4 September, law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry issued a gazette notification to hold the trial of Khaleda Zia in the case at the Old Dhaka Central Jail after setting up a makeshift court there.

The following day, Khaleda was produced before the special court-5 when she stated that she is sick and she will neither be able to appear before the court repeatedly nor can stay there for a long time.

The BNP chairperson is now at Nazimuddin Road central jail, serving five years' rigorous imprisonment as she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on 8 February this year.