DHAKA: The appellate division of the Supreme Court on Sunday (April 7) upheld the 6-month bail of BNP chief Khaleda Zia that granted by a High Court bench earlier in a case filed over the killing of eight people in a arson attack on a bus in Cumilla.

An appellate division bench comprised of four justices, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order rejecting the petition of the state seeking cancellation of the bail of Khaleda.

After the SC order, Khandaker Mahbub Hossian said, “The court today upheld Khaleda Zia’s bail after rejecting petition filed by the state. Due to the state's obstacle, it will be difficult to get bail in the legal process. She was accused in two cases yet. These are pending”. 

“Khaleda Zia will be able to release from jail if she was granted bail in the two cases and it the government does further not file any case”, he added.

Earlier on March 6, the High Court granted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia six months of bail in an murder case filed in Cumilla. 

An HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice SM Mojibur Rahman passed the order.

Lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and A. J Mohammad Ali moved for Khaleda Zia while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam moved for the state.

A Cumilla court rejected her bail plea on February 4.

On February 3 in 2015, eight people were killed and several others injured in a petrol bomb attack on a bus at Jogmohanpur in Chouddagram of Cumilla district during the BNP-led alliance’s movement.

Two cases were filed against Khaleda Zia over the incident. One was filed murdering eight people during arson attack on a bus and another filed under explosives act. 

Khaleda Zia has been serving her five years’ sentence in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case since February 8 of 2018.

BDST:  1221 HRS, APR 7, 2019
RS/SMS