Dhaka: Arrest warrants have been issued against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

Dhaka Special Court-5 Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman on Thursday passed the order rejecting a petition filed by the defendant seeking adjournment of the hearing as the BNP chief failed to appear before it due to the eight-hour hartal.

Khaleda’s counsels Barrister Mahabub Uddin Khokon and Sanaullah Miah submitted a petition to the makeshift court of Special Judge-5 at Bakshibazar citing his clients’ delay in court appearance due to hartal on security ground.

As the BNP chief was in bail till today, the court issued arrest warrant against her cancelling the bail, the counsels said.

On July 3, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21.0 million (2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.

On August 8, 2011, the commission 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. Khaleda Zia gets bail in two graft cases