Khaleda’s bail in trust graft case extended

The High Court (HC) yesterday extended till July 26 its earlier order that had granted bail to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, in which she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mustafizur Rahman passed the order following a prayer by Khaleda’s lawyer, advocate AJ Mohammad Ali, seeking extension of her bail. It also adjourned till today the hearing on Khaleda’s appeal challenging the trial court verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The HC began the hearing on the appeal on July 12 and held hearing for five days till yesterday.

During yesterday’s hearing, the defence counsel submitted the statements of witnesses and cross-examinations of eight witnesses before the HC bench, said advocate Khurshid Alam Khan, counsel for ACC.

On February 8, the special judge’s court-5 of Dhaka had convicted and sentenced Khaleda to five years’ imprisonment after finding her guilty in the corruption case. The court also sentenced Khaleda’s eldest son, BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, and four others to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 2.10 crore each. On February 20, Khaleda Zia filed an appeal with the HC, challenging the trial court verdict on her. The HC granted her bail in the case on March 13.

On May 16, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, upheld the HC order granting bail to the BNP chief in the case. The apex court also directed the HC bench led by Justice Enayetur Rahim to hear and dispose of the appeal of the BNP chief by July 31.

The BNP chief was not freed from jail as she was shown arrested in some other cases filed with different police stations in Comilla, Dhaka, Narail and Panchagarh, including the three in which she has already sought bail. The BNP chairperson is currently facing a total of 36 cases.

 

 

Khaledas bail in trust graft case extended

The High Court (HC) yesterday extended till July 26 its earlier order that had granted bail to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, in which she was sentenced to five years imprisonment. The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mustafizur Rahman passed the order following a prayer by Khaledas lawyer, advocate AJ Mohammad Ali, seeking extension of her bail. It also adjourned till today the hearing on Khaledas appeal challenging the trial court verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The HC began the hearing on the appeal on July 12 and held hearing for five days till yesterday. During yesterdays hearing, the defence counsel submitted the statements of witnesses and cross-examinations of eight witnesses before the HC bench, said advocate Khurshid Alam Khan, counsel for ACC. On February 8, the special judges court-5 of Dhaka had convicted and sentenced Khaleda to five years imprisonment after finding her guilty in the corruption case. The court also sentenced Khaledas eldest son, BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, and four others to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 2.10 crore each. On February 20, Khaleda Zia filed an appeal with the HC, challenging the trial court verdict on her. The HC granted her bail in the case on March 13. On May 16, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, upheld the HC order granting bail to the BNP chief in the case. The apex court also directed the HC bench led by Justice Enayetur Rahim to hear and dispose of the appeal of the BNP chief by July 31. The BNP chief was not freed from jail as she was shown arrested in some other cases filed with different police stations in Comilla, Dhaka, Narail and Panchagarh, including the three in which she has already sought bail. The BNP chairperson is currently facing a total of 36 cases.