Dhaka the High Court Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday granted permanent bail Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the order after final hearing on the rule issued by the court in 2008 that granted anticipatory bail to Khaleda Zia in the graft case.
Senior lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali, advocate Jakir Hossain Bhuiyan and AHM Kamruzzaman moved the bail plea on behalf of BNP Chief Khaleda Zia while Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Khurshid Alam Khan represented ACC.
The ACC prosecutor said, in 2008 the High Court granted the BNP leader anticipatory bail and issued a rule asking explanation as to why she should not be granted regular bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. After the final hearing on the rule yesterday, the High Court granted Khaleda Zia permanent bail in the case. “But the trial court can cancel the bail for any misuse of the bail,” he added.
The ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Model Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman, who has been living in the UK after securing bail for his medical treatment, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
Four other accused persons are former BNP lawmaker Salimul Haq Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former principal secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Kamal Uddin Siddique and Mominur Rahman, nephew of late President Ziaur Rahman. Kamal Uddin Siddique has been on the run. – Special Correspondent
