Dhaka: Dismissing her petition expressing no confidence in the judge, a special court here on Thursday fixed February 9 for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to place her self-defence statements in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases

Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge's Court-3 also turned down another petition of the BNP chief seeking further investigation into the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

Reading out the charges brought against her in the cases by 32 prosecution witnesses, the judge asked her whether she is guilty or not.

In reply, the BNP chief said, “I won’t say anything for self-defence as I was not given further time. Since my lawyers expressed no confidence in judges, I also don’t have confidence,” one of her counsels told UNB.

Later, the court set the fresh date in the presence of Khaleda.

On August 8, 2011, the ACC 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.

Besides, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 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 million that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.