The High Court on Wednesday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the jail term of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia would not be extended in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in which she was earlier sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Shahidul Karim issued the rule after hearing an appeal filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission seeking extension of Khaleda’s punishment, reports the UNB.

The court also asked authorities concerned to respond to the rule within four weeks.

On Sunday, the ACC submitted the petition.

Earlier on March 19, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court stayed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s bail till May 8 in the graft case.

The SC also allowed the state and the ACC to file petitions against HC order that granted bail to Khaleda fixing May 8 for next hearing.

On March 12, the High Court granted a four-month interim bail to Khaleda Zia.

On February 8 last, the Dhaka Special Court-5 convicted the BNP chief and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the case. She was then sent to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the city.

The court read out a 632-page summarised version of the verdict on that day and it released the full 1174-page copy of the verdict on February 19.