Dhaka: BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia today told the judge of the special court that it can sentence her to jail as long as it wants, but she cannot appear before it again and again due to her poor health condition.
Addressing the Special Judge Court-5, she said: “Punish me as much as you want. I am unwell and I cannot move freely as my left foot and hand have almost been paralysed. So, I cannot appear before the court again and again.”
“The court can punish me as long as it wants as I am not getting justice in this court,” she added.
Earlier in the day, the BNP chief entered the court on wheelchair around 12:20pm in connection with Zia Charitable Trust corruption case while her lawyers were not present during the hearing.
She alleged that her counsels were not allowed to defend her.
However, the court of Judge Akhtaruzzaman adjourned the day's hearing and fixed September 12 and 13 for the next hearing as no defence lawyers were there.
Today, the special court was shifted to the old central jail in Nazimuddin Road in Old Dhaka where the BNP chief has been serving jail after she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8.
The government issued a gazette notification in this connection yesterday while the decision to shift the court was taken a week ago.
The trial proceedings in the corruption case had taken place at a makeshift court in Bakshibazar area.
