Graft Case: Khaleda asked to defend herself Nov 24

A Dhaka court yesterday asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on November 24 for placing her self-defense statements in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Special Judge Court-3 passed the order in her presence. She appeared before the makeshift court at 10:40am at Alia Madrasa in Bakshibazar and was allowed to sit on a chair.

Yesterday, the BNP chief's lawyer quizzed Anti-Corruption Commission's Deputy Director Harun-Ur-Rashid, the case's investigation officer, since the Supreme Court directed the trial court to allow the re-cross examination after Khaleda filed a leave-to-appeal petition.

The other three accused are Harris Chowdhury, Khaleda's former political secretary, Ziaul Islam Munna, Harris's assistant private secretary, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS of former Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.