Khaleda bail remains suspended

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's bail granted by the High Court in a graft case will remain suspended until 8 May.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday issued the order maintaining a status of quo of suspending the HC's bail for the former prime minister.

The apex court, led by chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain fixed 8 May for hearing the briefs of appeal petitions filed by the respective parties.

In the same order, the SC gave permission to the Anti-Corruption Commission and the state side to file petitions against the bail for Khaleda Zia.

So, lawyers said, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief is unlikely to be released for now due to suspension of the bail and requirement for taking bail in a number of other cases.

The Supreme Court on Sunday heard the arguments on separate petitions filed on the question of bail for Khaleda Zia, who was sentenced to five years of imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on 8 February.

She was then taken to old jail of old Dhaka's Nazimuddin Road where she has been kept since then.

The High Court on 12 March granted her bail.