Dhaka: A Dhaka court will deliver its verdict on Thursday in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and five others.

Judge Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman of the makeshift court fixed the date on January 25 on completion of the argument hearing.

Dr Akhtaruzzaman will declare the verdict at about 11:00am. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be present at the court during the verdict.

Two other accused of the case—Salimul Haque Kamal and Sharfuddin Ahmed—were brought to the court at about 8:45am. Six people are accused in the case, among them three are absconding.

The fugitives are BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, former chief secretary of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Kamal Uddin Sidiqque, and BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman’s nephew Mominur Rahman.

Zia Orphanage Trust Graft Case at a glance:

·        Case filed with Ramna police on 3 July 2008

·        Plaintiff and investigation official of the case is deputy director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Harun-Aur Rashid.

·        The case statement says the embezzlement took place from 13 November 1993 to 28 March 2007.

·        Charges framed: 5 August 2010.

·        Number of proceeding days: 261

·        Number of days Khaleda Zia appear before the court: 43

·        Khaleda Zia gave self-defence statements 8 days

·        On 25 January 2018 Special Court-5 Judge Dr Akhteruzzaman fixed 8 February 2018 for delivering the verdict of the case.