HC given 3 more months to dispose of Khaleda appeal challenging conviction

The Appellate Division of Supreme Court on Tuesday extended time for the High Court till 31 October to dispose of an appeal filed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, reports UNB.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by chief justice Syed Mahmud Hossain came up with the order, said Khaleda's lawyer AKM Ehsanur Rahman.

Earlier on 16 May, the SC ordered the HC to dispose of Khaleda's appeal challenging the lower court's verdict in the case by 31 July.

Later, Khaleda's lawyer filed a review petition on 25 June saying that the hearing on the petition would not be finished by this time.

On 12 July, the Supreme Court kept the petition stand over till 31 July.

Later, Khaleda's lawyer again placed it before the court on 29 July.

The SC on Monday fixed 31 July to pass an order on the petitions.

On 8 February, 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.