Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case: Khaleda’s bail extended

The High Court today extended till next three working days its earlier order that granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case in which she is currently serving a five-year jail term.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order following a prayer moved by Khaleda’s lawyer Barrister Bodruddoza Badal seeking extension of her bail.

The bench asked the lawyers for Khaleda to finish placing their arguments by next three working days before it on the law points of her appeal against the trial court verdict that sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the case.

After hearing arguments for the 17th day on the appeal today, the court fixed 10:30am tomorrow for resuming the hearing on the appeal.

During the proceedings, the judges of the HC bench expressed dissatisfaction as Khaleda Zia’s lawyers did not appear before the bench for placing arguments on time even after they took time from the court earlier today, Anti-Corruption Commission’s lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star.

He also opined that the lawyers for Khaleda want to linger the court proceedings over her appeal by remaining absent in the courtroom.

On March 12, the HC granted four months’ bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the case filed by the ACC.

The four-month bail order expired on July 12. Since then, the HC bench extended the bail order six times so far.