Statements of 2 more recorded in Khaleda's absence

A Dhaka court yesterday recorded statements of two more prosecution witnesses in Zia Charitable Trust graft case in the absence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The witnesses are AFM Jahangir Hussain, managing director of Metro Makers Ltd, and Mainul Imran Chowdhury, deputy managing director of the same company.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge Court-3 recorded statements of the witnesses, and later the court fixed November 12 for next hearing of the case.

Earlier in the day, Abdur Rezak Khan, one of the counsels for Khaleda,

completed cross-examination of prosecution witness Mesbahul Haque, former official of Sonali Bank's Prime Minister Office branch.

A total of 18 prosecution witnesses, including complainant of the case, have so far testified before the makeshift court at Bakshibazar in the capital.

Prior to that, another lawyer, Sanaullah Miah, filed two petitions, saying that the BNP chief went to London for treatment and that they wanted to cross-examine the witnesses in her presence on the next scheduled date. He filed two more petitions over Khaleda's non-appearance.

According to the charge sheet in the Zia Charitable Trust case, Khaleda and three others abused power to collect Tk 6.19 crore for the trust during the BNP-led government's tenure between 1991 and 1996.