The Supreme Court on Sunday upheld the High Court order that stayed trial proceedings in four sabotage cases filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

A virtual bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hasan, issued the order rejecting state petitions seeking cancellation of the HC order.

Moreover, the apex court asked the HC to hear and dispose of the rules issued in connection with the cases.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon stood for Khaleda while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state.

Earlier on August 17, the Supreme Court also upheld High Court orders that stayed the trial proceedings of four separate vandalism and arson cases filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in 2015.

Khaleda Zia is in jail since February 8, 2018, the day she was convicted in a graft case.

She was shifted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital on April 1, 2019 and received treatment there till March this year.

On March 25 this year, Khaleda’s sentence has been suspended for six months and currently she is staying in her Gulshan house.

BDST: 1810 HRS, AUG 23, 2020
AP/SMS