DHAKA: Two accused, Dr Ziaul Islam Munna and Monirul Islam Khan, on Monday filed ‘no confidence’ pleas against the court for hearing the Zia Charitable Trust graft case. 

Judge Dr. Md. Akhteruzzaman of Special Judge’s court-5, set up in the old central jail, fixed Tuesday (Sep 25) for delivering order on the hearing of defence arguments and ‘no confidence’ pleas.

The court made the decision after the two accused filed separate petitions to adjourn the defence hearing till the prime accused of the case BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia returns to hearing after recovery from illness.

As the court rejected the adjournment pleas, lawyers of Munna and Monirul filed ‘no confidence’ pleas against the judge. 

The court ordered to send Munna to jail after rejecting his petition for extending bail. However, it upheld Monirul’s bail order as he had secured permanent bail earlier. The court also extended Khaleda Zia’s bail till September 25.

A total of four people were accused in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case. They are- BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia who is now serving her 5-year jail sentence in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, her the then political secretary Harris Chowdhury, Harris Chowdhury’s the then personal secretary Ziaul Islam Munna and former Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka’s personal secretary Monirul Islam khan. 

Of them, Harris Chowdhury is absconding.

BDST: 1552 HRS, SEP 24, 2018
AP/SMS