Khaleda bail upheld by chamber judge

High-Court
High-Court

The High Court order granting a four-month interim bail to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in a graft case remains in force as the Supreme Court on Tuesday does not pass any order on two petitions seeking cancellation of her bail.

The SC Appellate Division’s chamber judge justice Hasan Foez Siddique sent the two petitions to the full bench of division after partially hearing those.

The regular AD bench, led by chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, is set to hear the petitions on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, two separate appeals were filed with the Appellate Division against the HC order granting interim bail to the BNP chief in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Sufia Khatun filed a petition on behalf of the state while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan lodged another one on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

On Monday, the High Court granted the interim bail to Khaleda Zia.

On 22 February last, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia filed a petition with the High Court seeking bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. On the day, the HC asked the lower court to submit all the relevant documents within 15 days.

On 25 February, Khaleda Zia failed to secure bail in the case as the High Court said it would pass an order on her bail petition upon receiving all the documents relating to the judgment from the lower court.

On 8 February last, the Dhaka Special Court-5 convicted the former prime minister and BNP chairperson and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. She was then sent to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the city.