DHAKA: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday (Sep 27) filed a revision petition with the High Court challenging the lower court’s decision to continue the trial of Zia Charitable Trust corruption case in her absence.

Khaleda’s lawyer Barrister Kaisar Kamal told reporters that in the petition, Khaleda also sought a stay on trial proceedings of the case.

Earlier on September 20, a special Judge’s court-5 in Dhaka, set up in old central jail, decided to continue the trial of the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case against Khaleda Zia in her absence. The court came up with the order after Khaleda Zia repeatedly denied appearing before the court for hearing.  

Khaleda Zia’s lawyer said it was also mentioned in the petition that the lower court decision to continue the trial proceedings against the BNP chief in her absence is illegal and unconstitutional. The court cannot run the trial of an accused if he or she is physically sick.

The BNP chief is serving her 5-year jail sentence in old central jail after being convicted in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8. However, trial of Zia Charitable Trust graft case against her was underway in a Dhaka court. The court was then shifted inside the central jail due to her refusal to appear before it for hearing. 

However, Khaleda Zia only appeared before the court once after it was shifted inside the prison on Sep 5. She told the court that she will not appear again due to physical illness. She also shifting the court inside the prison is illegal and unconstitutional. A few days later, the court then decided to continue the trial of the case without her. 

BDST: 1648 HRS, SEP 27, 2018
AP/SMS