Khaleda Zia taken to court from BSMMU

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was taken to a makeshift court at the abandoned central jail from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) on Thursday to be produced before it for hearing of Niko graft case.

A black SUV carrying Khaleda reached the old central jail in the capital's Nazimuddin Road around 11:40am, reports news agency UNB, quoting jail sources.

Following the hearing, she will be taken back to the jail, they said.

Several police vehicles escorted her to the abandoned central jail from the hospital in the morning.

On Wednesday, the law ministry issued a gazette notification saying that the trial of Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia and others accused in the Niko corruption case will be held at a makeshift court in Old Dhaka central jail.

The ministry issued the gazette notification transferring the court citing security reasons.

According to the gazette, room no 7 of the old central jail's administration building will be the venue for the makeshift court.

Meanwhile, a huge number of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Detective Branch (DB) of police and Ansar members were deployed in and around Nazimuddin Road to maintain law and order as well as security.

Khaleda Zia was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) after prison authorities shifted her there from jail on 6 October for better treatment in response to a court order.

On 4 October, the High Court directed the government to immediately admit Khaleda Zia to the BSMMU and form a 5-member medical board afresh for her treatment.

Khaleda Zia was in the abandoned Dhaka central jail at Nazimuddin Road since she was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on 8 February this year.