Hearing put off in orphanage case

Dhaka, June 23 (bdnews24.com) ? Hearing in the framing of charges in the Zia Orphanage Trust case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and four others has been adjourned until Aug 23.

Special Court-3 judge Mozammel Haque issued the order adjourning the hearing on Thursday following an appeal from Khaleda's lawyer Sanaullah Mia.

During the hearing on his appeal, Sanaullah said more time was needed as the High Court was yet to issue verdict on a writ petition in the case.

Former MP Kazi Salimul Huq Kamal alias Econo Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, the two accused freed on bail, were present in the court.

Two other accused, late president and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's nephew Mominur Rahman and former bureaucrat Kamaludddin Siddiqui, remain fugitives.

The case, filed on July 3 2008, accuses Khaleda, Tarique and four others of embezzling over Tk 20 million from the Zia Orphanage Trust, which allegedly existed "only on paper". The charge sheet was submitted on Aug 5 the same year.

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