The Supreme Court today cleared the way for a lower court concerned to run trial proceedings against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The apex court dismissed a leave to appeal petition filed by Khaleda seeking stay on the trial proceedings of the case and to allow her lawyer to further cross examine 11 prosecution witnesses.

There is no legal bar for the trial court to continue the trial proceedings of the case against Khaleda and other accused following the SC order, Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star.

Earlier on November 6, a five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, who is discharging responsibilities of the chief justice, concluded hearing on the Leave to appeal petition and fixed today (November 9) for passing the order.

Khaleda recently filed the leave to appeal petition with the apex court against an order delivered by the High Court on October 22 this year.

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

Khaleda appears for self defence

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today gave her self-defense statement before a special court in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

She appeared before the makeshift court of Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Court-5, around 11:40am.

Khaleda Zia gave her statement before the court till 1:30pm.

Later, the court set November 16 to hear the rest of her self-defense statements and also extended her bail till that day.

In July 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique, and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that had come as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.