DHAKA, May 9, 2018 (BSS) – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today set May 15 to pass its order on the appeal against High Court order that granted bail to BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
A four-member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain set the date after hearing the matter for two days.
During today’s hearing, defence counsels AJ Mohammad Ali, advocate Joynul Abedin and Khandaker Mahbub Hossain argued for upholding the bail order for their client.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) counsel advocate Khurshid Alam Khan and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam took part in the hearing, placing arguments against the High Court order.
The High Court on March 12 granted four-month bail to BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, in which the former prime minister has been sentenced to five-year imprisonment.
But on March 19, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court stayed till May 8 the High Court order, granting two leave to appeal petitions filed by the ACC and the state against the bail.
The Appellate Division also asked the state, ACC and the defence to submit the concise statements on their respective appeals in the case within two weeks and set May 8 for holding hearing on the matter.
Earlier on February 22, the High Court asked Dhaka Special Judge Court-5, which convicted Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, to send the case documents within 15 days.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on February 8 convicted Khaleda Zia and five others in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
It also sentenced other five accused, including Khaleda’s elder son and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, to 10-year imprisonment each.
The other accused are former lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, and Khaleda’s nephew Mominur Rahman. The court also fined the convicts Taka 2.10 crore for their role in the scam.