Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday extended time for the High Court until October 31 to dispose of an appeal filed by BNP chief Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, came up with the order, said Khaleda’s lawyer Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman, reports the UNB.

Earlier on May 16, the SC ordered the HC to dispose of Khaleda’s appeal challenging the lower court’s verdict in the case by July 31.

Later, on June 25, Khaleda’s lawyer filed a review petition saying that the hearing on the petition would not be finished by the time.

On July 12, the Supreme Court kept the petition pending till July 31. Khaleda’s lawyer then again placed it before the court on July 29.

The SC on Monday fixed today to pass an order on the petitions.

On February 8, 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 Dhaka old central jail at Nazimuddin Road.