DHAKA: The Supreme Court on Thursday (Dec 5) deferred until December 12 the hearing on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s bail petition in Zia Charitable Trust Graft Case.

The apex court also asked the BSMMU medical board formed to treat Khaleda Zia to submit a report on her health condition within December 11 without any failure.

A six-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, issued the order following a petition seeking time.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam filed a petition seeking time for submitting the health report of Khaleda Zia. 

He said the health report of the BNP chief was not ready and more time is needed for preparing it.

On November 28, the six-member Appellate Division bench deferred the hearing on the bail petition in the case until December 5.

The court also asked the medical board formed to treat the BNP chairperson to submit a health report before the court on December 5.

Earlier on November 14, the petition was placed with the concerned branch of Appellate Division. Barrister Kaiser Kamal filed the petition on behalf of the former prime minister.

On Sept 11, the High Court bench of Justice Farid Ahmed and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin 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 – July 31 and Sept 3 this year.

On November 18 in 2018, the BNP chief has filed an appeal with the concerned branch of the High Court challenging the lower court verdict that sentenced her seven years imprisonment in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

On October 29 last year, Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court--5 sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 3 others to 7 years jail each, in much-hyped Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

Moreover, all the four convicts have been fined Tk10 lakh each. They have to serve more 6 months in jail each, in case of defying the fine.

Three other convicts are—Khaleda Zia’s former political affairs secretary Harris Chowdhury, his former aide and former BIWTA acting director Ziaul Islam Munna, and former Dhaka city corporation mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka’s personal secretary Monirul Islam Khan.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the graft case against Khaleda Zia and three others with Tejgaon Police Station on August 8, 2010 for embezzling Tk3.15 crore from Zia Charitable Trust.

On February 8, a Dhaka court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case.

She was sent to Dhaka central jail following the verdict. Since then, she has been in jail.

BDST: 1202 HRS, DEC 05, 2019
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