A Dhaka court on Thursday recorded self-defence statement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2008. Judge Md Aktaruzzman of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court 5 recorded her partial self-defence statement and fixed November 2 for the recording of the rest of her statement. She also said she was not guilty several times before the court during her statement in the case. During her self-defence statement, Khaleda said the current government was “illegal”, adding that Bangladesh does not have an elected government and parliament right now. The court also fixed November 2 for the next hearing in Zia Charitable Trust case after recording testimony of Mokbul Ahmed, deputy general manager of Janata bank Ltd.On July 3, 2008, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna police station, accusing Khaleda, her son Tarique Rahman and four others for embezzlement of over Tk2.10 crore.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 26, 2017 19:30 UTC