A Dhaka court has framed charges against against six people, including convicted Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee, on charge of embezzling money of Islamic Foundation’s Zakat Fund.

Judge Sayeda Hosneara of the Special Judge’s Court of Dhaka framed the charges on Monday.

Sayedee, now in jail, and four others, who are on bail at present, pleaded not guilty and demanded justice after the judge read out the charges to them at the makeshift court at Alia Madrasa in Bakshibazar, Old Dhaka.
The five other accused are Mohammad Lutful Haque, former director of Islamic Foundation; Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, former chairman of Mosque Council for Community Advancement; Mia Mohammad Yunus, chief secretary of Bandhujan Parishad; Tofazzal Hossain, former president of Islamic Social Welfare Center; and Md Abdul Haq, assistant director of Islamic Foundation’s Mosque Council.

Another accused, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, former chairman of Mosque Council for Community Advancement, is on the run.

Earlier in the day, the judge rejected the petitions submitted by Sayedee and the four for discharging them from the case.

The judge then set February 17 for starting trial of the case.

Islamic Foundation’s finance and accounting director Aiyub Ali Chowdhury filed the case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in Dhaka on May 24, 2010.

Wajed Ali Gazi, an assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, filed the charge sheet in the case on April 30, 2012.