DHAKA: The Appellate Division has adjourned the hearing appeal challenging the legality of indictment Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases, filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, till Thursday.

The five-member Appellate Division bench led by Justice M Mozammel Hossain passed the adjournment order on Wednesday.

BNP chairperson’s lawyer Advocate Zainul Abedin moved for the leave to appeal hearing in the court while other lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali moved for the two graft cases.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam was the prosecutor while Khurshid Alam Khan was also present on behalf of the ACC.

The hearing has been conducted at the makeshift court, setup at Dhaka Alia Madrasa premises of Bakshibazar area in the city.

On March 19, Justice Basudeb Roy granted a charge-sheet against eight people, including Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman.

However, Khaleda appealed to the High Court challenging the charge-sheet but the HC rejected the plea.

Later, she appealed to the Appellate Division for leave to appeal against the case.

Earlier, on July 3, 2008, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman, also senior vice chairman of BNP, and four others.

BDST: 1505 HRS, NOV 19, 2014