Charge hearing in two cases against Khaleda Zia Jun 27

Khaleda Zia under medical treatment

A Dhaka Court Thursday set June 27 for charge hearing in two cases against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

Of the two cases, one was filed on the charges of observing fake birthday on National Mourning Day and the other for stigmatizing the War of Liberation.

Earlier, Thursday (June 8) was fixed for indictment hearing in the two cases, but Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Noor reset the date, allowing a time plea of the defense.

Khaleda Zia's counsel Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder filed the time plea, saying that his client could not appear in the court due to her illness.

Journalist Gazi Jahirul Islam lodged the fake birthday case against Khaleda on August 30, 2016.

According to the complainant, Khaleda Zia was celebrating her birthday on August 15, the day when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was martyred along with most of his family members, since 1996. She has been allegedly doing this on the purpose to dishonour the Father of the Nation.

The complainant also submitted copies of different newspaper reports on Khaleda Zia's birthday, copies of her passport, marriage certificate and mark sheets, which indicate August 15 is not her birthday.  

Jananetri Parishad President AB Siddiqui filed the other case on November 3, 2016, against Khaleda Zia and her late husband Ziaur Rahman for stigmatizing the War of Liberation by rehabilitating anti- Liberation War elements.

The BNP Chief is on bail in both the cases as the then Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka KM Imrul Qayesh granted her bail on July 31, 2018. – Special Correspondent