Khaleda Zia goes on trial on charges of graft

Dhaka: Bangladesh's main opposition leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia went on trial on Monday accused of embezzling about $ 680,000 in two corruption cases that could see her jailed for life if found guilty.

69-year-old Zia's trial in the two corruption cases -- Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust -- began with the recording of the deposition of a witness in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson's absence. Partial deposition of plaintiff Harun-ur-Rashid, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), was recorded at Judge Bashudeb Roy of Special Judge's Court. The trial of Zia, who has twice served as the country's Prime Minister, is being held at a makeshift court in Bakshibazar here.