DHAKA: The hearing on two writ petitions filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the legality of the appointment of a judge who indicted her in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases began Wednesday.

An HC single bench comprising Justice Quazi Rezaul-Ul Hoque started conducting the hearing.

On Monday, the bench fixed Wednesday for hearing in the writs after Khaleda’s lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain came up with the time petitions.

On May 25, an HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice M Ejarul Haque Akondo pronounced split decision after hearing the writ petition. 

The petition alleged that legal procedure was not followed to indict Khaleda Zia, her elder son Tarique Rahman as no gazette notification was published regarding appointment of the judge to try the cases. 

On March 19, Special Judge-3 of Dhaka indicted Khaleda Zia and others in the cases. 

On April 13, Khaleda’s lawyer filed review petition seeking cancelation of indictment order against Khaleda and others.

Later, the High Court rejected the revision plea seeking an order for cancelation of the indictment decision by the trial court.

BDST: 1650 HRS, JUN 18, 2014