The High Court (HC) yesterday granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in an arson attack case in Cumilla. The HC bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman granted the bail after hearing an appeal filed by Khaleda challenging a lower court order that rejected her bail petition in the case on September 13.

Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah told reporters that the government would move an appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the HC order.

However, Khaleda cannot get release from jail following the HC order as she is arrested in few other cases, he said.

Police filed the arson case with Chauddagram Police Station on January 24, 2015, against Khaleda and others after a covered van was damaged by fire during an anti-government agitation.

The BNP chief has been languishing in the old central jail since February 8 after a special court sentenced her to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. However, the HC enhanced her punishment to 10 years in the case.