Dhaka: The High Court (HC) on Sunday asked a lower court to allow the lawyers of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to cross examine four prosecution witnesses in Zia Charitable Trust Graft case.

A two-member HC bench comprising Justice Md. Shawkat Hossain and Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder passed the order after the hearing of a petition filed by Khaleda’s counsels.

The four witnesses are—Sheikh Makbul Ahmed, Amirul Islam, Amal Kanti and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) official Chowdhury NM Alam.

Advocate AJ Mohammed Ali, advocate Joynul Abedin and advocate AD Jakir Hossain Bhuiyan stood for the BNP chief while ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan argued for the state.

Khaleda Zia’s counsel Jakir said Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 has already recorded deposition of 32 witnesses out of total 36.

However, Khaleda’s lawyers are yet to cross examine five witnesses, out of the 32, who gave their statements, Jakir added.

On June 8, the BNP chief filed an appeal with Special Judge Court-5 to cross examine the five witnesses, however, the court rejected the petition.

Following this, Khaleda’s lawyers filed a petition with the HC seeking its order to allow to cross examine the prosecution witnesses.

On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abuse of power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.