Dhaka: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia appeared before a special court on Thursday to speak for herself over the charges in Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

Khaleda Zia reached the court of Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court 3, set up in the playground of Govt Alia Madrasah in the capital’s Bakshibazar, at about 10:55 am to attend the case proceedings, said her counsel Sanaullah Mia.

The court will hear the statement of Khaleda in her self-defense in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case while statements of all the accused in Zia Orphanage Trust case.

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

ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also an investigation officer of the case, pressed the charges against the accused on 16 January, 2012.

The ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on 3 July, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK after securing bail, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21. 0 million (2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.