Court ends recording of IO's statement

A Dhaka court yesterday concluded recording statement of the investigation officer in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case in the absence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The other accused are Harris Chowdhury, Ziaul Islam Munna, former assistant private secretary of Harris Chowdhury, and Monirul Islam Khan, who was APS of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

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Of them, Khaleda, Munna and Monirul are on bail while Harris is on the run. Khaleda could not appear before the court due to her personal affairs, said Taherul Islam Tauhid, one of her counsels.

Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Director Harunur Rashid, also the investigation officer of the case, gave his deposition.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge Court-3 recorded the statement and fixed January 14 for the defence to cross-examine the IO, the 32nd and the last witness of the case following a time petition by Khaleda's lawyer.

In the statement, the IO said following the case he took over the charge of investigation into the case after being directed by his office. During the investigation, he seized important documents from different banks and offices which were related to the case. He also recorded statements of witnesses who knew about the fact of the case.

After an investigation, Harun pressed charge against Khaleda and three others on January 16, 2012.

The ACC on August 8, 2011 filed the case against the four of abusing power to raise fund in the name of Zia Charitable Trust.