DHAKA: The makeshift court setup inside the old central jail for conducting trial of Zia Charitable Trust graft case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is not an open court as per constitution and law, said lawyers of Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association (BSCBA).

THE BSCBA members came up with the remarks at a press briefing in its office on Thursday (September 6).

BSCBA president Joynul Abedin, who is also the vice-chairman of BNP, came up with a written statement at the press briefing.

He said, “An open court, accessible to all, is defined by article 35(3) of the constitution and article 352 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The makeshift court set up in the room-7 of the old central jail is not accessible to general public and thereby not an open court.”

The trial of Khaleda Zia in Zia Charitable case can not be conducted in that court as it is not for public trial, Joynul added.

Earlier on Sep 5, a legal notice on behalf of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to the government requesting cancellation of the gazette notification that said her trial of Zia Charitable Trust corruption case will be held on old Dhaka central jail premises.

The Law Ministry published a gazette notification for conducting the trial of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Charitable trust case in old central jail on Sep 4.

Khaleda Zia appeared before the makeshift court in jail on Sep 5. She then refused to appear before court over and again telling the court to go give her as much punishment as it wishes.

The BNP chief has been serving her five years’ sentence in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case since February 8.

BDST: 1430 HRS, SEP 6, 2018
AP/SMS