DHAKA: A special court, set up in old central jail, has ordered to continue the trial of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Charitable Trust graft case in her absence after she had repeatedly refused to appear in hearing.

Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of Special Judge’s Court-5 came up with the order on Thursday (September 20).

Earlier on Sep 12, the same court adjourned the hearing of Khaleda’s defence arguments in the case as she refused to appear before it. 

The court also fixed today (Sep 20) to deliver its order whether the trial of the case will continue without her (Khaleda).

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is serving her 5-year jail sentence in Zia Orphanage Trust case in old central jail. Because of her physical illness the Law Ministry issued a notification to set up a makeshift court in the prison to conduct the trial of Zia Charitable Trust graft case against her.

However, the jail authority failed to produce her before the makeshift court as she refuses to do so over and again.

Earlier on Sep 4, the Law Ministry issued a gazette notification saying the trial court will be shifted in the Dhaka central jail in Nazimuddin road to conduct trial of Zia Charitable case against Khaleda Zia. 

After the court was shifted there, Khaleda Zia appeared before it once and told the court that she will not appear again and the court can give her as much punishment as it wishes. 

BDST: 1600 HRS, SEP 20, 2018
AP