DHAKA: The Supreme Court differed till November 30 the order on an appeal filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

Khaleda, in the appeal, challenged the High Court verdict that had upheld order to frame charges against her in the case.

A five-member bench led by chief Justice M Muzammel Hossain fixed the new date on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday was the day to deliver the order on the appeal.

The SC conducted hearing on the appeal for three working days from November 20 to November 24.

Attorney General Mahbub-e-Alam and Khurshid Alam Khan of Anti-Corruption Commission move for the state while advocates Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and AJ Mohammad Ali moved for Khaleda during the hearing.

On Tuesday, the Appellate Division also rejected another appeal filed by Khaleda challenging court’s order to frame charges against her Zia Orphanage Case.

Zia Charitable Trust Case

On August 8, 2011, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.     

The other accused in the case are Harris Chowdhury, Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary (APS) to Harris, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS to Sadeque Hossain Khoka, mayor of the erstwhile Dhaka City Corporation.

Zia Orphanage Case

The ACC filed the graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore which came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.  

The other accused are former BNP lawmaker Kazi Saleemul Haque, businessperson Sharfuddin Ahmed, Khaleda's former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Momenur Rahman.

BDST: 1333 HRS, NOV 25 2014