HC stays trial proceedings

The High Court yesterday stayed the trial proceedings against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in four separate vandalism and arson cases.

The court also issued four rules asking the government to explain as to why the proceedings of the cases against Khaleda should not be scrapped.

The HC bench of Justice Md Miftah Uddin Choudhury and Justice ANM Bashir Ullah came up with the order and rules after hearing four petitions filed by Khaleda seeking stay on the trial.

Deputy Attorney General Shaikh AKM Moniruzzaman Kabir told The Daily Star that the government would move appeals before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for staying the HC order.

The cases were filed during anti-government agitation enforced by BNP-led alliance in  2015.

Khaleda recently filed the petitions with the HC challenging the legality of the trial proceedings of the cases.

Lately, the HC stayed trial proceedings against Khaleda in three other cases including a sedition case.

Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday again expressed no-confidence in another judge who was dealing with the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against her.

Opposing the petition, Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol said the BNP leader had earlier moved a petition with the High Court seeking the transfer of the case to any other court. 

On March 8, the HC gave an order to transfer the case from the Special Judge Court-3 to the Senior Special Judge's Court, and asked the latter to dispose of the case in 60 days.

After the hearing, Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah fixed April 27 for placing Khaleda's self-defence statements in the case.

Yesterday, Khaleda also filed a petition for transfer of the Zia Charitable graft case to any other court fearing that she will not get justice from the court.

After hearing, Judge Abu Ahmed Jomader of the Special Judge Court-3 asked the BNP chief to file a transfer miscellaneous case with the High Court as he had no jurisdiction in this matter.

The court also fixed May 18 for the next hearing on the petition.

The court on March 30 warned that legal order would be passed if Khaleda Zia fails to appear before it yesterday for placing her self-defence statements in connection with the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

Earlier in the day, BNP chief appeared before the makeshift court at Bakshibazar in connection with Zia Charitable Trust and Zia orphanage graft cases.