DHAKA: The High Court extended till July 31 the bail of Khaleda Zia and adjourned till July 29 the hearing of her review plea challenging the 5-year jail term 15 in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

An HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order on Wednesday (July 25).

Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan moved for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) while 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 Orphanage Trust graft case, 3 convicts including Khaleda Zia are in jail while three others are absconding.

BDST: 1805 HRS, JULY 25, 2018
AP/SMS