DHAKA: The Appellate Division of Supreme Court fixed July 2 to pass order on a leave-to-appeal against the High Court order that granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a Cumilla murder case. 

A 4-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain fixed the date after hearing on Sunday (June 24).

However, in the case of Special Powers Act, the hearing will be held on Monday (June 25).

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stood for the state while Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, AJ Mohammad Ali and Joynul Abedin stood for Khaleda.

On May 28, the High Court granted bail for six months to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in two cases filed in Cumilla.

Later in the day, the state filed an appeal with the Chamber Court of Appellate Division seeking stay on the High Court bail order.

In response to the appeal, a Chamber court stayed the HC order.   

On February 3 in 2015, 8 people were killed and dozens injured after petrol bomb was hurled at a Dhaka-bound bus in Comilla. Later, an arson case was filed accusing 56 BNP-Jamaat men including Khaleda Zia for giving orders of that attack.

On February 8, a Dhaka court sentenced five years imprisonment to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia orphanage Trust graft case.

She was sent to Dhaka central jail following the verdict. Since then, she has been serving her sentence in prison.

BDST: 1408 HRS, JUN 24, 2018

AH/SMS