The Special Judge Court, dealing with the Zia Charitable Trust graft, will deliver its verdict today but BNP chief Khaleda Zia, one of the accused, will not attend the court as she is sick.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Director Brigadier General Abdullah Al Harun told Bangla Tribune: “She will not go to the court today.”

When asked about the health of the former prime minister, he said, “She is admitted to the hospital. Nobody gets admitted to hospital unless she is sick.”

The Anti-Corruption Commission had filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case against the BNP Chief Khaleda Zia and three others with Tejgaon Police Station in Aug, 2011.

According to the case dossiers, the former prime minister and three others abused their power and raised funds from unknown sources for the trust.

The three others facing charges are Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to the then PM Khaleda, Ziaul Islam Munna, assistant private secretary (APS) to Harris, and Monirul Islam Khan, APS to former Dhaka City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

A three-time premier Khaleda has been serving a five-year sentence since Feb 8 when she was convicted of embezzling foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust.

On Oct 16, the court concluded trial in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case and kept its verdict pending for Oct 29.