Khaleda verdict

BNP lawyers to get certified copy today

Fatema starts serving BNP chief in jail

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is yet to get the certified copy of the lower court verdict that sent her to jail for five years in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. As a result, she could not file an appeal.

“We communicated with officials of the special judge court-5 about the certified copy. The court officials informed us that they would provide it on Thursday. We will appeal before the High Court on Sunday," Advocate Sanaullah Miah, counsel for Khaleda, told The Independent yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan, another counsel for the BNP chief, said they would file the appeal, seeking interim bail for Khaleda Zia and a stay order from the HC.

"We hope to get the certified copy by Thursday. Only then will we be able to file the appeal before the High Court by Sunday or Monday," Khokan said.

Khaleda Zia is competent to secure bail in the case. The High Court will consider her age and social status. So, there will be no problem for Khaleda Zia in getting bail, some Supreme Court lawyers said.

Considering all aspects, it seems that the government does not want the BNP chairperson released from jail by securing bail from the High Court in just one case. The government might be thinking of showing her arrested in some other cases and this might delay her release,  the lawyers added.

On February 8, the lower court sent the BNP chief to jail after sentencing her to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. She is lodged in Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road in the city.

Meanwhile, Khaleda’s domestic help Fatema Begum has been allowed to serve her in the prison following a court order, adds UNB.

Three days after the special court ordered the jail authorities to give the BNP chief division, Fatema yesterday started assisting her staying with her in the old Dhaka central jail.

According to the jail code, the 73-year-old leader can keep a domestic help to look after her round the clock, said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Khaleda verdict

BNP lawyers to get certified copy today

Fatema starts serving BNP chief in jail

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is yet to get the certified copy of the lower court verdict that sent her to jail for five years in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. As a result, she could not file an appeal. We communicated with officials of the special judge court-5 about the certified copy. The court officials informed us that they would provide it on Thursday. We will appeal before the High Court on Sunday, Advocate Sanaullah Miah, counsel for Khaleda, told The Independent yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan, another counsel for the BNP chief, said they would file the appeal, seeking interim bail for Khaleda Zia and a stay order from the HC. We hope to get the certified copy by Thursday. Only then will we be able to file the appeal before the High Court by Sunday or Monday, Khokan said. Khaleda Zia is competent to secure bail in the case. The High Court will consider her age and social status. So, there will be no problem for Khaleda Zia in getting bail, some Supreme Court lawyers said. Considering all aspects, it seems that the government does not want the BNP chairperson released from jail by securing bail from the High Court in just one case. The government might be thinking of showing her arrested in some other cases and this might delay her release, the lawyers added. On February 8, the lower court sent the BNP chief to jail after sentencing her to five years imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. She is lodged in Central Jail on Nazimuddin Road in the city. Meanwhile, Khaledas domestic help Fatema Begum has been allowed to serve her in the prison following a court order, adds UNB. Three days after the special court ordered the jail authorities to give the BNP chief division, Fatema yesterday started assisting her staying with her in the old Dhaka central jail. According to the jail code, the 73-year-old leader can keep a domestic help to look after her round the clock, said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.