DHAKA: The High Court extended till August 13 the bail of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and adjourned the hearing of her review plea challenging the 5-year jail term in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

An HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order on Wednesday (August 8).

Lawyers AJ Mohammad Ali, Zainul Abedin and Abdur Rezak Khan moved Khaleda Zia while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan moved for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

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

Later, Khaleda Zia’s lawyers filed an appeal against the verdict with the HC 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: 1432 HRS, AUG 8, 2018
SI