DHAKA: The review plea of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust case was adjourned as the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court put a standover on it.

The court, however, will consider the plea if the appeal hearing doesn’t come to an end by July 31. 

A four-member appellate bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order Thursday (July 12).

Earlier, hearing on the plea ended on July 9.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam moved for the state while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan moved for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Barrister Moudud Ahmed, AJ Mohammad Ali and Zainul Abedin moved for Khaleda Zia, at the courtroom.

On February 8, a Dhaka court sentenced Khaleda to five years of rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Later Khaleda’s lawyers filed an appeal against the verdict with the High Court seeking bail for her. On March 12, the HC granted four months bail to Khaleda Zia. 

The government and ACC then filed an appeal against the HC bail order with the Supreme Court. On May 16, the SC upheld the bail order and asked HC to hear and dispose of her appeals in the case by July 31. 

Later Khaleda Zia’s lawyers filed a petition with SC seeking a review of its order. On Thursday (July 5), the chamber court of the appellate division fixed July 9 for a full bench hearing of the review petition. 

Of the six convicts of Zia Orphanag Trust graft case, 3 convicts including Khaleda Zia are in jail while three others are absconding.

BDST: 1129 HRS, JUL 12, 2018
SI/SMS