Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-A court in Dhaka issued arrest warrants against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and two others Wednesday in two graft cases.
The cases are: Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.
In 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against six persons including Khaleda Zia and her eldest son Tarique Rahman for allegedly misusing BDT 2.1 crore from the Zia Orphanage Trust funds.
In 2011, the ACC accused Khaleda and three others of misappropriating BDT 3.15 crore from the Zia Charitable Trust fund.
The court also directed BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, the charge sheeted accused in the Zia orphanage graft case, to appear before it on March 4.
The court came with the order responding to a plea filed by the ACC.
Tarique has been in London since September 11, 2008 on medical grounds after securing parole in various cases. He faces 14 charges, of which four including the August 21 grenade attack case are on trial while the rest were stayed.
The two others who also faced arrest warrants in the graft cases are: former BNP lawmaker Kazi Saleemul Haq and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed.
The court of Special Judge-3 in Dhaka issued the arrest warrants rejecting bail petitions of Khaleda and two others.
The court also denied extending the time in the case as Khaleda, also a former premier of Bangladesh, has skipped more than 50 such hearing sessions in the past on different grounds including security reasons and illness.
Today, BNP chief Khaleda also skipped the hearing in the two graft cases on security reasons.
The court adjourned its hearing till March 4.
BBN/AS/AD-25Feb15-12:30pm (BST)