Dhaka: BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that the date for delivering verdict in Zia Charitable Trust graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and others was fixed ‘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 trail and justice,’ he said, reports the UNB.

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.’

Fakhrul came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after the maiden meeting of the Jatiya Oikya Front at JSD president ASM Abdur Rob’s Uttara residence.

He said holding the trial in Zia Charitable Trust case in absence of Khaleda Zia is illegal. ‘Announcing the verdict date 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.’

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.