Aslam Chowdhury's bail order stayed

The Appellate Division on Sunday stayed the High Court bail orders for BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury, in two sabotage cases filed in 2013, until 20 June.

The virtual bench of the Appellate Division, headed by chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the orders following petitions filed by the state, seeking stay on the High Court orders.

The court also asked the state to file a leave to appeal petition against the High Court orders by 20 June.

On 30 May, the High Court granted bail to BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury, joint secretary general of BNP, in two sabotage cases filed against him with the capital's Kotwali and Shahbag police stations, following two bail petitions filed by him.

The bench of justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the orders, granting him ad-interim bail for six months. Deputy attorney general Md Bashir Ullah confirmed the matter.

Aslam's lawyer Hasibur Rahman said the High Court orders cleared the way for his client to walk out of jail.

On 15 May, 2016, Aslam was arrested from Dhaka's Khilkhet for allegedly hatching a conspiracy with Israeli intelligence agency Mossad to overthrow the government.

On 26 May that year, he was sued for the alleged sedition and then shown arrested in two sedition cases.

Next, Aslam was accused in other cases including sabotage and cheque fraud. However, he secured bail in all the cases, Hasibur said.