BSS-11 Khaleda’s bail plea in charitable trust graft case scrapped

235

ZCZC

BSS-11

HC-VERDICT-BAIL-KHALEDA

Khaleda’s bail plea in charitable trust graft case scrapped

DHAKA, Feb 27, 2020 (BSS) – The High Court (HC) today scrapped another plea
for bail filed by BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Zia Charitable Trust
graft case.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice
AKM Zahirul Huq passed the order after going through Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib
Medical University (BSMMU) report on the latest health condition of the BNP
chief.

While rejecting the bail plea, where Khaleda’s counsels said she needs to
be taken to London for further treatment, the court said her treatment is
possible at BSMMU Hospital.

“The court in its order said to start her treatment immediately after she
gives consent to it. It also said if it is necessary to include more expert
physicians in the medical board formed to treat her,” Anti-Corruption
Commission (ACC) counsel lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told newsmen.

The BSMMU authorities earlier in its report said Begum Khaleda Zia has not
given consent to receive advanced treatment as per direction of the medical
board formed to treat her.

“She is suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and
osteoarthritis. All though all the problems are under control but she has not
given consent to start advanced treatment for osteoarthritis. She has not
even let doctor do the diagnosis for the treatment,” the court quoted the
report.

Khaleda’s counsel Advocate Joynul Abedin after that pleaded for time to
talk to her client over the matter. But the court set 2pm for passing order,
saying why she has not given consent to the advanced treatment is her
personal matter.

The High Court on February 23 adjourned the hearing till today on BNP
chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s bail plea in the case.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice
AKM Zahirul Huq passed the order, asking Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University (BSMMU) vice-chancellor to submit latest report on the health of
the BNP chief by February 26.

“The High Court has asked the BSMMU authorities to inform it through the
report whether Begum Khaleda Zia has agreed to receive advanced treatment as
per the recommendations of the medical board, if yes, then whether the
treatment has been started yet, if yes, then what is her latest health
condition,” Khaleda’s counsel Joynul Abedin told newsmen on the day.

Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on October 29, 2018, sentenced BNP chairperson
Begum Khaleda Zia and three others to seven-year imprisonment each in Zia
Charitable Trust graft case.

The court also fined them Taka 10 lakh each, in default, have to suffer
more six months in jail.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with capital’s Tejgaon
Police Station on August 8, 2010, for embezzling Taka 3.15 crore while police
on January 16, 2012, filed charge sheet against four including the ex-
premier.

The other convicts are Khaleda’s former political secretary Haris
Chowdhury, the then BIWTA director Ziaul Islam Munna and Monirul Islam Khan,
former personal secretary of former Dhaka city mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka.

The court framed charges against Khaleda and others in the case on March
19, 2014.

BSS/DA-MHR/RY/16:30 hrs