Dhaka: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will appear before a Dhaka court on Thursday for presenting her self-defence statements in in Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.

BNP Chairperson’s press wing official Shamsuddin Didar told NTV Online BNP chief will appear start for the court from Gulshan residence at about 10:00am.

Earlier, 01 June, Judge Mohammad Akhtaruz-zaman of the Special Judge Court-5 in Bakshibazar, Dhaka, deferred the hearing till 8 June after Khaleda Zia’s lawyer submitted a petition seeking time.

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.

Meanwhile, another court deferred charge-framing hearing on Niko graft and Barapukuria coal mine cases.

Judge Aminul Islam of Dhaka Special Judge’s court-9 fixed 2 February for hearing the Niko graft case and February 15 for Barapukuria coal mine case.

The ACC on 9 December, 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda and four others in connection with a Tk 137.77 billion loss to the national exchequer by signing an oil-gas exploration agreement with Niko during BNP rule.

On 26 February, 2008, Md Shamsul Alam, the then Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption (ACC), filed the Barapukuria coal mine case with Shahbagh Police Station against 16 people, including Khaleda Zia and members of her cabinet for causing loss to the national exchequer in connection with the coal mine.