BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir claims the verdict in Zia Charitable Trust graft case against party chief Khaleda Zia has been scheduled “illegally at the behest of the government”
“The date of the verdict was announced absolutely on the government’s instructions. They’ve been trying from the very beginning to convict our leader (Khaleda) without any trial,” he said on Tuesday (Oct 16).
Mirza Fakhrul was speaking to the media after the maiden meeting of the Jatiya Oikya Front in the city’s Uttara.
The BNP leader also alleged that the government is trying to deprive Khaleda of justice through the court. “It’s exposed that the judiciary has totally collapsed in Bangladesh as the government has established its control over it.”
He said holding the trial in Charitable Trust case in absence of Khaleda is illegal. “Fixing the date of verdict in her (Khaleda’s) absence is also totally illegal.”
The trial process in the cases was not completed as the accused could not give self-defence statements and lawyers could not end their arguments.
“We think it’s contrary to justice. We protest it,” said Mirza Fakhrul.
Earlier in the day, Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Court-5 in Dhaka fixed October 29 for pronouncing verdict in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
On February 8 last, Khaleda was convicted in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case by the same court.