Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-A court in Dhaka on Wednesday upheld the arrest warrant issued against Khaleda Zia, a former premier of Bangladesh, in two graft cases.
The Special Judge's Court-3 of Dhaka came up with the order in absence of Khaleda rejecting her petition filed seeking withdrawal of the arrest warrant.
The same court on February 25, issued the arrest warrant against Khaleda, also the chief of BNP, in connection with Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases.
“The February 25 order on the BNP chief’s arrest will remain effective,” the court said on Wednesday.
"No one is allowed to file such petitions on behalf of a fugitive accused. The court will consider their pleas if they appear before it in person." the court told Khaleda's lawyers.
Today, Khaleda skipped the hearing in the two graft cases on security reasons.
Khaleda has skipped more than 50 such hearing sessions in the past on different grounds including security reasons and illness.
The court also fixed April 5 for the next hearing in the cases.
However, it has permitted the lawyers to participate in the trial proceeding on behalf of Khaleda's son Tarique Rahman who is also an accused in one of the cases.
Earlier on February 25, the court directed BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, the charge sheeted accused in the Zia orphanage graft case, to appear before it on March 4.
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.
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.
BBN/AS/AD-04Mar15-2:30pm (BST)