Dhaka, July 05 (UNB) – A court here on Sunday fixed Aug 5 for charge hearing against Khaleda Zia and two other accused in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case filed by Anti-corruption Commission last year.

Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, acting judge of Senior Special Judge`s Court, Dhaka, passed the order after brief hearing over time petitions submitted by the lawyers of three accused, including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia who was staying in Chittagong to distribute relief among disaster-hit people today.

Three other accused in the case are Khaleda Zia`s former political advisor Haris Chowdhury who is now staying abroad, his former personal secretary Ziaul Islam Munna, now acting director (marine security and traffic) of BIWTA, and Manirul Islam Khan, former personal secretary of ex-mayor of now-defunct Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

Of the accused Haris Chowdhury left the country in 2007 and has been staying abroad since then. He was mentioned in the charge sheet as an absconding accused.

In his petition Khaleda Zia`s lawyer Advocate Sanaullah Mia prayed for a deferment of the hearing, stating that the accused is unable to appear before the court for hearing today as she has to stay in Chittagong to distribute relief materials among the injured and the families affected by flood and landslide which killed about 100 people there last week.

Maninur Islam`s layer submitted a time prayer on behalf of the accused saying that his client is seek and unable to appear before court today while Ziaul Haque`s lawyer, in a similar petition, prayed to extend the bail of the accused.

The judge deferred the charge hearing to Aug 5 accepting their petitions.