A Dhaka court has upheld the arrest warrant issued against BNP chief Khaleda Zia in two graft cases.Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Special Judge’s Court 3 of Dhaka passed the order in absence of Khaleda on Wednesday afternoon.
The court fixed April 5 for the next hearing in the cases. It also refused to entertain the petitions filed seeking withdrawal of Khaleda’s arrest warrants.”No one is allowed to file such petitions on behalf of a fugitive accused. The court will consider their pleas if they appear before it in person.
” the court told Khaleda’s lawyers.However, it has permitted the lawyers to participate in the trial proceeding on behalf of Khaleda’s son Tarique Rahman, who is also an accused in one of the cases.BNP chief Khaleda Zia, who is facing arrest warrant in two graft cases, did not appear before the court during the hearing.Her lawyer said Khaleda has decide not to leave her Gulshan office due to security reasons.
Leader of the main political opposition, Khaleda earlier skipped court hearings several times, citing lack of security when activists of her own alliance enforced countrywide shutdowns or blockades.Speculations have been rife that the BNP chief might be arrested anytime since the court issued arrest warrants against her.
The warrant, however, did not find its way to the Gulshan police station as of Tuesday.State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters that the police were yet to receive the warrant.The authorities initially prevented Khaleda Zia from leaving her office to join a protest rally on January 5 marking the one-year anniversary of the “one-sided election.
”On February 25, the same court issued an arrest warrant against Khaleda in two graft cases.Later, another court on March 1 issued a search warrant for Khaleda’s Gulshan office where she has been residing since January 3.The court issued the warrant to search the office for explosives and a communication device that police claim Khaleda is using to coordinate the countrywide sabotage.
Source: Bd Today
