The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Sharfuddin Ahmed, one of the main accused in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, was arrested yesterday by the Anti-Corruption Commission and handed over to Ramna police station.

"Sharfuddin, one of the main accused in the case, was sum moned yesterday to the ACC for questioning. He could not provide satisfactory answers," ACC deputy assistant director Harunur Rashid, the investigating officer (IO), told UNB.

"Therefore, in the interest of investigation he was arrested and handed over to Ramna police station," he added.

On July 3, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, Sharfuddin and four others on charge of embezzling over Tk 2.10 crore in the name of a charity named Zia Orphanage Trust. The misappropriated money was meant for spending on welfare of the country's orphans.

The four other accused in the case are former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque, Syed Ahmed alias Sayeed Ahmed, Gias Uddin Ahmed and Mominur Rahman, a nephew of the late President Ziaur Rahman.

The IO said Sharfuddin is one of the main accused, as the misappropriated money was withdrawn from his bank account.

Khaleda and Tarique were separately questioned on Wednesday in connection with the case. Khaleda was questioned at the makeshift prison while her son was quizzed at the prison cell of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.