Dhaka, Dec 4 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) will hear today on an appeal filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging a High Court order that had turned down her bail petition in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case in which she was imprisonment by a trial court.The matter has been included into the Supreme Court cause list as item number 7.
The Supreme Court authority has taken tight security in and around the Supreme Court premises to avoid ny untoward incident ahead of the hearing on the BNP chief bail plea, Supreme Court sources said.
A six-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain will hear on the bail plea.
Earlier, on November 29, the same bench of the apex court sought medical reports on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s health condition while hearing her bail petition in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
It asked the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University to submit Khaleda’s health reports before it by December 5.
Senior lawyer Joynul Abedin along with others pro-BNP lawyers will appear on behalf of the three-time prime minister while attorney general Mahbubey Alam will represent the state and Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan may appear for the Anti-Corruption Commission during today’s hearing.
Khaleda had moved the top court on November 14 challenging a High Court order that had turned down her bail petition in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
The High Court bench of Justice Farid Ahmed and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin on September 11 rejected Khaleda’s bail petition in the case, in which she is serving a 10-year sentence.
Her bail petitions were turned down twice before on July 31 and September 3.
On August 8, 2011, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust case with Tejgaon police against four people, including Khaleda. They were accused of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.
A special court jailed the BNP chief and three others for seven years in the corruption case on October 29 last year. Khaleda later moved the High Court which increased her sentence by three more years.
The former prime minister has been in prison since February 8 last year after she was sentenced to jail for five years in a separate corruption case.
On October 6, Khaleda Zia was admitted to the BSMMU for better treatment in response to a court order.
On November 8, she was discharged from the BSMMU upon approval from the medical board formed for her treatment and produced before a makeshift court at old Central Jail in Niko graft case.
She is currently being treated at the BSMMU. – Staff Reporter
