The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is likely to be charge-sheeted in yet another graft case, as the Anti-Corruption Commission is scrutinizing the investigation report of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against her, Tarique Rahman and five others.

The investigation report of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case has been submitted to the anti-graft watchdog with recommendation of charge-sheeting

the former premier and her eldest son Tarique and others.

"Investigation officer Harunur Rashid, an ACC deputy assistant director, has submitted the memo of evidence (investigation report) of the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. And the Commission is scrutinizing the report," a competent source told UNB.

Replying to a question, the source said the investigation officer in its report has recommended pressing charges against Khaleda, Tarique and others.

Without providing the exact number of individuals recommended to be charge-sheeted, the source said the investigation officer has proposed dropping one or two accused from the case. He also recommended inclusion of a former bureaucrat in the charge sheet, as his involvement was found during the investigation.

Responding to a question, the source confirmed that those recommended to be charge-sheeted include Khaleda, Tarique, a former BNP lawmaker and a relative of the Zia family.

In reply to a question, the source said the Commission has already

sat to discuss the case and likely to approve it soon.

With the approval of the submission of charge sheet in the case, the ACC will have approved charge-sheeting Khaleda in all four graft cases it filed against her. Following the Gatco and Niko cases, the Commission Thursday approved the submission of charge sheet in the Barapukuria case. Charge-sheets in the Gatco and Niko cases have been submitted quite some time ago.

Both Khaleda and Tarique are now out of jail on bail in all the cases, including the Zia Orphanage Trust one, filed against them.

On July 3 this year, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust case against then detained former Prime Minister Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and five others for alleged embezzlement of money that was meant for spending on the welfare of orphans.

The case was filed with Ramna police station, accusing the seven of misappropriating or abetting in defalcation of Tk 2.1 crore from the orphans' funds.

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.

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.

This was the fourth graft case filed against the immediate-past premier and BNP chairperson amid a clampdown on former ruling politicians in the present interim period.

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