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Download PDF A team of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday separately quizzed detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia and her eldest son and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman in connection with the embezzlement of over Tk 2.10 crore of Zia Orphanage Trust.
The ACC team led by Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Harunur Rashid interrogated Khaleda at the gate of makeshift jail on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises from 5:45pm to 7:30pm. They quizzed Tarique at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital cabin from 4:15pm to 5:30pm.
Their lawyers barrister Nowshad Zamir, advocate Mahbub Uddin Khokan and advocate Shimul Biswas were present during interrogation.
Advocate Shimul Biswas, another lawyer of Khaleda and Tarique, told The Daily Star that during the interrogation Khaleda asked the ACC interrogators if they found her signatures in the documents of the orphanage trust and withdrawal of the money.
Claiming Tarique innocent, he said the money was withdrawn on March 28 last year and Tarique was arrested on March 7, three weeks before that incident.
Talking to The Daily Star, DAD Harunur Rashid said, “I have asked the former prime minister if she had spent the money from the PM’s fund according to the law.
“When I asked her on which purposes she had spent the amount, she said she cannot recall it,” he said.
In reply to a question, he said, “It is true that the money was withdrawn after the Tarique Rahman’s arrest but that does not prove him innocent because he had transferred the money to other persons before his arrest.”
The ACC filed the case with Ramna Police Station on July 3 accusing Khaleda, Tarique and five others for embezzling over Tk 2.10 crore by forming an eyewash establishment named Zia Orphanage Trust.
The other accused are former BNP lawmaker Kazi Saleemul Haq, Syed Ahmed alias Sayeed Ahmed, Gias Uddin Ahmed, Sharfuddin Ahmed and Khaleda’s nephew Mominur Rahman.
According to the case, the accused embezzled the amount unlawfully by establishing an organisation named Zia Orphanage Trust that exists only on paper.
On June 9, 1991, a grant of $1,255,000 (about Tk 4.45 crore at the time) was transferred from United Saudi Commercial Bank to the Prime Minister’s Orphanage Fund created by Khaleda shortly before transferring the grant. Only Khaleda administered the fund.
Earlier, the ACC interrogated Khaleda and her two detained sons Tarique and Arafat Rahman Koko and a member of the trust in connection with the allegation.
Khaleda is also accused in Gatco, Niko and Barapukuria graft cases while Tarique is accused in 15 cases.
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