Draft case: Order on running trial in absence of Khaleda Sept 20

Kabir Humayun: A Dhaka court fixed September 20 to deliver an order on whether the trial proceedings in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case will continue in absence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Judge MD Akhteruzzaman of the Special Judge Court-5 fixed the date yesterday after holding a hearing, reports The Daily Star.
Sanaullah Mia stood for Khaleda while Mosharraf Hossain for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer during the day’s hearing.
On Wednesday, the BNP chief did not appear before the special court at Old Dhaka Central Jail in the corruption case.
The court adjourned hearing of the case, saying the court would hear whether it should continue its proceedings in absence of Khaleda.
The jail authorities informed that court about Khaleda’s unwillingness to appear before it.
Khaleda’s lawyers filed a petition on Wednesday, saying that the makeshift court inside the prison could not continue its proceedings without permission from the Supreme Court.
Previously, the proceedings used to take place at a makeshift court in Bakshibazar area.
On September 4, the law ministry issued a gazette notification for holding the trial in the graft case at Old Dhaka Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road.
It said the decision was made taking Khaleda’s security into consideration.