Dhaka, March 18 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will deliver its order today, on leave to appeal petitions challenging BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s bail that the High Court (HC) granted her in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.A four-member bench the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain set the date after the hearing on two petitions filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the State, and another filed on behalf of Khaleda Zia seeking withdrawal of stay on the bail order.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan moved on behalf of the ACC while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appeared on behalf of the state and lawyers AJ Mohammad Ali and Khandaker Mahbub Hossain represented Khaleda Zia in the apex court.
Earlier on March 15, the ACC and the State filed two leave to appeal petitions with the Appellate Division challenging BNP Chief Khaleda Zia's bail that the High Court granted her in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. Khurshid Alam said in the petition, ACC sought continuation of the stay order on the High Court bail order until the leave to appeal is disposed of.
Counsel of Khaleda Zia filed a petition with the Appellate Division seeking withdrawal of its stay order hours after issuance of it. Earlier on March 14, the Appellate Division stayed until yesterday (Sunday) the High Court order granting a four-month interim bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. The apex court also asked the petitioners to file regular leave to appeal petition by Sunday.
Earlier on Tuesday, Appellate Division Chamber Judge Justice Hasan Foez Siddique sent the two petitions to the full bench of the Division without giving any order.
Advocate Sufia Khatun filed a petition on behalf of the State while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan lodged another one on behalf of the ACC. On Monday last, the High Court granted the interim bail to Khaleda Zia. On February 22, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia filed a petition with the High Court seeking bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. On the day, the High Court asked the lower court to submit all the relevant documents within 15 days.
On February 25, Khaleda Zia was not granted bail in the case as the High Court said it would pass an order on her bail petition upon receiving all the documents relating to the judgment from the lower court.
On February 8, the Special Court-5 of Dhaka convicted the former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson, and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. She was then sent to old central jail of Nazimuddin Road in the old city. – Special Correspondent
