Dhaka, Oct 03 – The High Court Wednesday asked the lawyers for BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to finish placing their arguments by next three working days before it on the law-points of her appeal against the trial court verdict that sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. However, the HC bench extended till next three working days its earlier order that granted bail to Khaleda in the case in which she is currently serving a five-year jail term.
The HC bench comprising Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the order while Khaleda’s lawyer Barrister Bodruddoza Badal moved with a petition seeking an extension of her bail in the case.
Talking to The Independent, Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said that during the proceedings the judges of the High Court bench expressed dissatisfaction as Khaleda Zia’s lawyers did not appear before the bench for placing arguments on time even after they took time from the court earlier.
He also opined that the lawyers for Khaleda want to linger the court proceedings over her appeal by remaining absent in the courtroom.
In response to a query, Alam said that he would start placing arguments on behalf of the ACC from Wednesday morning if lawyers for Khaleda would not come before the court on time.
After hearing arguments for the 17th day on the appeal yesterday, the court fixed 10:30 am tomorrow for resuming the hearing on the appeal.
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.
On March 12, the HC granted four months’ bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the case filed by the ACC.
The four-month bail order expired on July 12. Since then, the HC bench extended the bail order six times so far.
After the lower court verdict, Khaleda Zia was sent to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the city. – Staff Reporter
