SC stays Khaleda Zia’s bail until 8 May
Dhaka: The Appellate Division of Supreme Court stayed until 8 May a High Court order granting a four-month interim bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The four-member Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain issued the order on Monday, after considering the leave to appeal petitions challenging BNP chief’s bail.
Earlier, on 18 March, the SC bench set the date concluding its hearing on two petitions filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the state and another filed by Khaleda Zia seeking withdrawal of stay on bail order.
Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan moved the ACC while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam for the state and advocates AJ Mohammad Ali and Khandaker Mahbub Hossain for Khaleda Zia.
On March 15, the ACC and the state filed two leave to appeal petitions before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s bail that the High Court granted her in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
Khurshid Alam said in the petition ACC sought continuation of the stay order on a High Court bail order until the leave to appeal is disposed of.
Lawyer of Khaleda Zia filed a petition to the apex court seeking withdrawal of its stay order hours after issuance of it.
On 14 March, the Supreme Court stayed until Sunday a High Court order granting a four-month interim bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The apex court also asked the petitioners to file regular leave to appeal petition by Sunday.
On 13 March, Appellate Division chamber judge Justice Hasan Foez Siddique sent the two petitions to the full bench of the division without passing any order.
Advocate Sufia Khatun filed a petition on behalf of the state while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan lodged another one on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
On 12 March, the High Court granted the interim bail to Khaleda Zia.
On 22 February, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia filed a petition with the High Court seeking bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. On the day, the HC asked the lower court to submit all the relevant documents within 15 days.
On 25 February, Khaleda Zia failed to secure bail in the case as the High Court said it would pass an order on her bail petition upon receiving all the documents relating to the judgment from the lower court.
On 8 February, the Dhaka Special Court-5 convicted the former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. She was then sent to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the city.