Dhaka: A Dhaka court on Tuesday asked Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on 25 May in connection with Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 passed the order upon four separate petitions submitted by Khaleda's lawyer, seeking adjournment of the hearing in the cases.

On 5 April, a Dhaka court granted bail to BNP chief Khaleda Zia and two other accused in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.  

The court on 25 February issued a warrant for the arrest of Khaleda and two other accused in the two graft cases revoking bail as she had skipped hearings on several occasions.  

On 29 January this year, the court fixed 25 February for hearing of the graft cases filed against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia along with eight other accused and asked the accused to appear before it during trial.

The Special Judge's Court-3 on 19 March last year framed charges against the former Prime Minister, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and seven others in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.

On 8 August 2011, the ACC filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.

ACC deputy director Harunur Rashid, also an investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge-sheet against the accused on 16 January 2012.

In addition, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on 3 July 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman and four others of misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore which came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans. The charge-sheet in the case was submitted to the court on 5 August 2010.