The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Anticorruption Commission (ACC) yesterday has filed a new case against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, her elder son Tarique Rahman, and five others for alleged embezzlement of money from the Zia Orphanage Trust.

The ACC Director General (Administration) Col Hanif Iqbal said "The Commission approved the graft case against seven people, including Khaleda Zia and her elder son Tarique Rahman, on charges of embezzling Tk 2.10 core from the Zia Orphanage Trust,"

This is the fourth graft case filed against the immediate-past premier and BNP chairperson since her arrest amid a clampdown on former ruling politicians in the present interim period. The anti-corruption watchdog came up with the case when a process was reportedly underway for their conditional release for treatment abroad, the way another detained ex-PM, Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League chief, was set free.

Late President Ziaur Rahman's nephew Mominur Rahman, former BNP MP

Kazi Solimul Haque, Syed Ahmed, Gias Uddin Ahmed and Sharfuddin Ahmed have also been implicated in this latest graft case. ACC Deputy Assistant Director Harunur Rashid filed the case with Ramna police station, accusing the seven of misappropriating or abetting in defalcation of Tk 2.1 crore from the orphans' funds.

This is, however, the first case, since the January 11, 2007 changeover, where both Khaleda and Tarique were co-accused. Earlier, Khaleda was accused with her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko in the Gatco case.

In the FIR, it was stated that during the 1991-96 period, Khaleda, the then Prime Minister, had opened a current account with Sonali Bank in the name of Prime Minister's Orphans Fund and a sum of US$ 12,55,00 (Tk 4.44 crore) arrived into this account on June 9, 1991 through a draft of United Saudi Commercial Bank.

But, despite existence of thousands of orphanages in the country, that money was not given to any of those charities. Rather, on September 9, 1993, a trust styled 'Zia Orphanage Trust' was set up without following the guidelines that are required to run orphanages/trusts.

The FIR says the Zia Orphanage Trust with Khaleda's two sons--Tarique and Koko-- and their cousin Mobin at the helm was formed "with an intention to get the money misappropriated by her family members".

On November 13, 1993, an amount of Tk 2.33 crore was given to the Zia Orphanage Trust from the Prime Minister's Orphans Fund for setting up an orphanage in Bogra. Of the money, Tk 2.77 lakh was spent on buying 2.79-acre land in the name of the trust. The remaining money was not spent in establishing orphanage or behind the welfare of orphans until 2006.

"In 13 years, the unspent money remained in a bank account and with the interest the money increased to Tk 3.37 crore, and during 2006 and 2007 about Tk 2.10 crore was misappropriated by the accused," it was stated.

About the role of Khaleda Zia, the complainant held the former Prime Minister responsible for the process of misappropriation of the money meant for the orphans. She was also accused of abusing power.

The case was filed under sections 409/109 of the Penal Code, section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 and section 15 of the Emergency Powers Rules 2007.

The Trust's chairman Tarique Rahman and member Arafat Rahman Coco were also interrogated.