Dhaka: Judge Dr Akhteruzzaman reached court for announcing the verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and five others on Thursday.

The judge arrived at the special court premises in Bakshibazar at about 10:25am.

Earlier, 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.

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

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, who is now living in the UK, and four others of misappropriating over 2.10 crore that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.

Four other accused are former BNP MP Salimul Haq Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former principal secretary to the PM Kamal Uddin Siddique and Mominur Rahman, nephew of late President Ziaur Rahman.

Kamal Uddin Siddique and Mominur Rahman have been absconding.

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.