Zia orphanage trust case

HC to hear on four pleas tomorrow

The High Court (HC) yesterday fixed Tuesday (July 3) for hearing four separate appeals in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, in which BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. The HC bench, comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman, fixed the date following a prayer by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking enhancement of Khaleda Zia’s sentence in the case.

Among the four pleas, one was filed by Khaleda Zia seeking acquittal, a revision petition was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking enhancement of Khaleda’s jail sentence, and two others were filed by convicts Qazi Saleemul Huq alias Qazi Kamal and Sharfuddin Ahmed seeking acquittal.

After the two petitions of Saleemul and Sharfudin were included in yesterday’s cause list for order, the HC bench said all the appeals of Khaleda, ACC, Saleemul and Sharfuddin would be heard analogously.

Talking to The Independent, advocate Khurshid Alam Khan, counsel for the ACC, said the same HC bench had earlier fixed July 3 for hearing the appeal of Khaleda challenging the lower court verdict in the case.

“We have sought the Chief Justice’s permission to pass necessary order so that the same bench of the HC could hear all the petitions filed by Khaleda, ACC, Saleemul and Sharfuddin analogously,” he added.

On Thursday, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain had passed an order directing the HC bench led by Justice Enayetur Rahim to hold a hearing on the appeals of ACC, Saleemul and Sharfuddin analogously. After that, the HC bench yesterday (Sunday) fixed the date for hearing on the petitions analogously, Khan said.

On March 12, the HC bench, led by Justice Enayetur Rahim, granted four months’ bail to Khaleda in this case, accepted the appeals of Khaleda, Saleemul and Sharfuddin for their hearing and stayed their fines.

Following the ACC’s petition, the HC, on March 28, issued a rule asking Khaleda and the government to explain why her jail sentence in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case should not be enhanced. On February 8, the Special Judge’s Court-5 of Dhaka sentenced Khaleda to five years’ rigorous imprisonment after finding her guilty in the graft case. Since then, Khaleda Zia has been languishing in jail.

The court also jailed her elder son Tarique Rahman, now the acting chairman of the BNP, and four others for 10 years and fined them Tk. 2.1 crore, saying all six convicts would have to pay the fine in equal amounts.

Zia orphanage trust case

HC to hear on four pleas tomorrow

The High Court (HC) yesterday fixed Tuesday (July 3) for hearing four separate appeals in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, in which BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has been sentenced to five years imprisonment. The HC bench, comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman, fixed the date following a prayer by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking enhancement of Khaleda Zias sentence in the case. Among the four pleas, one was filed by Khaleda Zia seeking acquittal, a revision petition was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking enhancement of Khaledas jail sentence, and two others were filed by convicts Qazi Saleemul Huq alias Qazi Kamal and Sharfuddin Ahmed seeking acquittal. After the two petitions of Saleemul and Sharfudin were included in yesterdays cause list for order, the HC bench said all the appeals of Khaleda, ACC, Saleemul and Sharfuddin would be heard analogously. Talking to The Independent, advocate Khurshid Alam Khan, counsel for the ACC, said the same HC bench had earlier fixed July 3 for hearing the appeal of Khaleda challenging the lower court verdict in the case. We have sought the Chief Justices permission to pass necessary order so that the same bench of the HC could hear all the petitions filed by Khaleda, ACC, Saleemul and Sharfuddin analogously, he added. On Thursday, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain had passed an order directing the HC bench led by Justice Enayetur Rahim to hold a hearing on the appeals of ACC, Saleemul and Sharfuddin analogously. After that, the HC bench yesterday (Sunday) fixed the date for hearing on the petitions analogously, Khan said. On March 12, the HC bench, led by Justice Enayetur Rahim, granted four months bail to Khaleda in this case, accepted the appeals of Khaleda, Saleemul and Sharfuddin for their hearing and stayed their fines. Following the ACCs petition, the HC, on March 28, issued a rule asking Khaleda and the government to explain why her jail sentence in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case should not be enhanced. On February 8, the Special Judges Court-5 of Dhaka sentenced Khaleda to five years rigorous imprisonment after finding her guilty in the graft case. Since then, Khaleda Zia has been languishing in jail. The court also jailed her elder son Tarique Rahman, now the acting chairman of the BNP, and four others for 10 years and fined them Tk. 2.1 crore, saying all six convicts would have to pay the fine in equal amounts.