Dhaka: A Dhaka court on Monday deferred Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s hearing till 18 June in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

The court also rejected a petition filed for cancelling the deposition of the plaintiff which was taken in the absence of Khaleda Zia in the cases.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Special Judge’s Court-3 passed the order on the Bakshibazar Alia Madrasah playground in the presence of Khaleda Zia during a legal procedure held from about 11:00am to 12:20pm.

Earlier, Khaleda Zia’s counsels filed a petition for cancelling the statement recorded by the court in absence of Khaleda Zia on 22 September, 1 December, 8 December in 2014 and 7 January, 14 January of this year.

Khaleda Zia’s lawyers Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and AG Mohammad Ali said it was illegal to record others’ statement as the accused, Khaleda Zia, often appeared before the court.

On 5 May, Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 asked BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on Monday in connection with the two graft cases.

The court passed the order upon four separate petitions submitted by Khaleda’s lawyer, seeking adjournment of the hearing in the cases.

The Special Judge's Court-3 on 19 March framed charges against the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and seven others in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.

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

ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also an investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge-sheet against the accused on 16 January 2012.

 In addition, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on 3 July 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore which came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans. The charge-sheet in the case was submitted to the court on 5 August 2010.