DHAKA: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court extended till October 31 the time for disposing the appeal of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the five-year jail given her in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

The appellate bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order Tuesday (July 31).
 
Lawyers AJ Mohammad Ali and Zainul Abedin moved for Khaleda Zia while Khurshid Alam Khan moved for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam for the state, at the courtroom.

The review plea regarding the time extension will be on pending, said lawyer Khursid Alam Khan.

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

Khaleda Zia’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 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: 1036 HRS, JUL 31, 2018
SI