Dhaka, Aug 9 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday fixed August 12 for passing to pass an order on a petition filed by the government seeking a stay on the High Court order that granted bail to BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in an arson case filed in Cumilla under the Special Powers Act 1974.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain set the date after completion of hearing on the petition.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam argued on behalf of the State while Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali, Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon appeared for Khaleda Zia.
The High Court on August 6 granted six months’ bail to Khaleda Zia in the arson case. The case was filed with Chouddogram Police Station in Cmilla on February 3, 2015, after eight people were killed and 25 to 30 people were injured as a passenger bus was torched during anti-government agitations at Chouddogram area.
The government on August 7, this year, filed the petition with the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the High Court order of bail.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to the prison on February 8 after she was given a a five-year rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. – Staff Reporter
