SC hearing on leave to appeal petitions ends

Decision on Khaleda’s bail order Monday


FE Team | Published: March 18, 2018 13:37:03 | Updated: March 18, 2018 17:41:41


File photo used only for representation.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will deliver its judgment tomorrow (Monday) on leave to appeal petitions challenging BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's bail that the High Court granted her in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

A four-member appellate bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain set the date concluding its hearing on three petitions - two filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the state and another filed by Khaleda Zia seeking withdrawal of stay on bail order.

Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan moved for the ACC while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam for the state and advocates AJ Mohammad Ali and Khandaker Mahbub Hossain for Khaleda Zia, according to a UNB report.

Earlier on March 15, the ACC and the state filed two leave to appeal petitions before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging BNP Chairperson 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 a High Court bail order until the leave to appeal is disposed of.

Lawyer of Khaleda Zia also filed a petition to the apex court seeking withdrawal of its stay order hours after issuance of it.

Earlier on March 14, the Supreme Court stayed until Sunday (today) a 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 passing any order.

Advocate Sufia Khatun filed a petition on behalf of the state while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan lodged another one on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

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 HC asked the lower court to submit all the relevant documents within 15 days.

On February 25, Khaleda Zia failed to secure 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.

Earlier on February 8 last, 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. She was then sent to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the city.

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