Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia arrives in the makeshift courtroom of the Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-3 at Bakshibazar in the city on Thursday.
Says country turned into a prison
Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday pleaded not guilty to abuse of power as prime minister in managing fund for Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Charitable Trust and said that the whole country now turned into a prison.
‘I am completely innocent,’ Khaleda told the Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-3 to defend herself in the case, as the judge, Abu Ahmed Jamadar, read out to her the charges and testimonies of 31 prosecution witnesses.
She said that she would produce defence witnesses.
The court adjourned the proceedings till December 8 after recording Khaleda’s incomplete statement defending her.
Khaleda recalled the contribution of her slain husband, late president Ziaur Rahman, to the country’s liberation war in 1971 and said that the country had deviated from the spirit of the war of independence as people’s civic rights stated in the constitution were infringed.
She said that the sense of ‘deep insecurity’ and uncertainty persisted, 75,000 opposition leaders and activists were now languishing in prisons and 25,000 ‘false cases’ were filed against four lakh opposition activists across the country.
‘The entire Bangladesh is now turned into a prison,’ she said.
The BNP chief said pall of gloom descended on the country because of oppression of the people by the government, as enforced disappearance, killing and abduction continued.
She asked if there were any ‘equality’, ‘human dignity’ and ‘social justice’.
Khaleda said that she would place remaining portion of her statement on the next date.
The former prime minister arrived in the makeshift courtroom at Bakshibazar at about 12:30pm.
Security was beefed up in and around the court premises while the opposition activists alleged that police chased them as they tried to form a peaceful human chain.
Prior to her statement, Khaleda’s counsel including Abdur Razaque Khan argued that oath had not been taken lawfully by the investigator.
Razaque Khan argued that any oath should be taken in the name of God as directed by the law but it was not followed. The judge dismissed the argument and continued with the trial.
Razaque Khan hinted that they would move to the higher court against the decision of the court.
On August 8, 2011, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the charitable trust case with Tejgaon police station accusing four people, including Khaleda, of abusing power in raising funds and its management.
The commission filed Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Orphanage Trust case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna police station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now in London, and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans. The trial in the case was also adjourned until December 8.
On Thursday, the defence counsels cross-examined the Orphanage Trust case investigation officer, Harun-or-Rashid.
During cross-examination, Harun said that he had interrogated Tarique Rahman on July 23, 2008 on permission from a magistrate court when he was under prison custody at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
Source: New Age