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 Sunday.

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

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

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.

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 six others.

On August 5, 2009, the ACC submitted charge-sheet against eight people, including Khaleda and her son Tarique.

However, Khaleda appealed to the High Court challenging the charge-sheet on October 9, 2009 but the HC rejected the plea in 2011.

Later on February 26 in 2012, she appealed to the Supreme Court (SC) for leave to appeal against the case.

On the other hand, the ACC assistant director Harunur Rashid filed Zia Charitable Trust graft case against four people, including Khaleda Zia on August 8 in 2011.

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

Khaleda filed two writ petitions in those cases challenging the charges.

Later, she appealed to the SC as the HC dismissed the writs.

BDST: 1555 HRS, NOV 20, 2014