Dhaka, June 27 – The High Court Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed July 3 for hearing against the punishment of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case in which she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
The court also asked the lawyers of the BNP Chairperson to provide the paper book of the case within 24 hours. A High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman fixed the date responding to a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Senior lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali and Advocate Zainul Abedin stood for Khaleda Zia while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the court.
On Sunday, ACC counsel Khurshid Alam filed a petition against the petition filed by Khaleda Zia before the court.
Earlier on May 16, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain upheld the High Court order that had granted bail to convicted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The Appellate Division also issued an order to dispose of Khaleda Zia’s appeal challenging the lower court’s verdict in the case by July 31.
On May 9, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by the Chief Justice fixed May 15 for delivering the order after closing a two-day hearing on the two petitions.
The apex court on May 8 adjourned until May 9 the hearing on the petitions filed by the ACC and the state against Khaleda Zia’s bail.
On March 19, the Appellate Division stayed Khaleda Zia’s bail until May 8 in the graft case in which she was convicted by the lower court.
On February 8, the Special Court-5 of Dhaka convicted the BNP leader Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the case. She was then sent to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the city. She secured four months’ bail from a High Court bench in the case on March 12. – Special Correspondent
