DHAKA: A Dhaka court has adjourned till January 15 the recording of witness deposition in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and others.

Judge Abu Ahmed of Special Judge Court-3, setup on the premises of Alia Madrasah in city’s Bakshi Bazar area, passed the order after recording partial deposition on Wednesday.

Earlier the court rejected the review petition filed by Khaleda Zia’s lawyers following the rejection of their appeal for deferment of deposition recording in the Zia Orphanage Trust case. 

Later, lawyers of the BNP chief filed the latest petition for reviewing its order on recording deposition in absence of her (Khaleda).

Earlier in the day, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia did not appear before court in the hearing of Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

On behalf of the BNP chief, her lawyers filed a petition seeking deferment of deposition recording in the Zia Orphanage Trust case.

Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder, Advocate Mohsin Mia and Advocate Aminuddin stood for the time petition while Advocate Mossharaf Hossain Kazal is taking part in the hearing for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
 
Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) deputy director Harun-ur-Rashid, the plaintiff in the cases, was present before the court of Dhaka Special Judge-3 Abu Ahmed Jomader set up at Dhaka Alia Madrasa ground at city’s Bakshibazar for recording his testimony.

Three main lawyers of Khaleda’s lawyers panel—Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Advocate Khondaker Mahbub Hossain and Advocate Sanaullah Mian— were not present in the court as they went into hiding after an attempted to murder case was filed accusing them during a clash at the High Court premises.

In the time petition, the other lawyers said that the government has kept BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia ‘confined’. She is seriously ill. So, she could not appear before court.

** Khaleda’s time petition rejected

BDST: 1506 HRS, JAN 07, 2015