Khaleda likely to file appeal Thursday

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia’s counsels are making preparations to file an appeal against a trial court verdict that landed her in jail.

The lawyers said they are likely to get the certified copy of the verdict on Wednesday.

On 8 February, the fifth special court of judge Md Akhteruzzaman handed down the verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust case, convicting and thus sentencing the former prime minister to five years in jail.

Shortly after the pronouncement of the verdict, Khaleda landed in the abandoned central jail building at Nazimuddin Road in the capital.

A pro-BNP Supreme Court lawyer said they would first file the appeal against the verdict and then seek bail.

The lawyer also voiced his optimism that the court would grant Khaleda the bail.

He said Khaleda has already been asked to appear before the court in several cases. "It seems that the government wants to prolong Khaleda’s stay in jail," the lawyer added.