Khaleda's bails granted, extended, cancelled -- all in a day

The High Court granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a defamation case, extended her bail in a corruption case and cancelled one in a vandalism case.

Meanwhile, she filed a petition with the HC, seeking bail in another defamation case.

All of the above took place in a single day, yesterday.

BAIL IN DEFAMATION CASE

The HC bench of Justice Muhammad Abdul Hafiz and Justice Kashefa Hussain granted a six-month bail to the BNP chief in a defamation case filed in Narail for making derogatory remarks on martyrs of the Liberation War and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The bench passed the order after hearing her bail petition.

On December 21, 2015, Khaleda at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in Dhaka raised questions about the actual number of Liberation War martyrs saying, “There're controversies over how many were martyred in the Liberation War. There're also many books and documents on the controversies.”

Raihan Farooque Imam of Naragati in Narail filed the case with the Cognisance Court on December 24, 2015.

BAIL EXTENDED IN GRAFT CASE

The HC extended till October 3 its earlier order that granted bail to Khaleda 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 Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali, seeking extension of her bail.

On March 12, the HC granted four months' bail to Khaleda in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The bail order expired on July 12. Since then, the HC bench extended the bail order five times.

Yesterday, the same HC bench heard for the 15th day the appeal filed by Khaleda, challenging the lower court verdict that convicted her in the case.

Khaleda's lawyers Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali and Advocate Abdur Rezak Khan read out from the paper book and placed arguments before the bench.

The bench adjourned the appeal hearing till October 2, said ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Sarkar.

BAIL CANCELLED IN VANDALISM CASE

Meanwhile, the HC cancelled its earlier order that granted a six-month bail to Khaleda in a case filed for vandalising a covered-van in Comilla's Chouddagram area on January 25, 2015.

It, however, directed the trial court concerned to dispose of her bail petition within seven days after receiving the order. The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman passed the order.

The HC on May 28 granted a six-month bail to her.

On June 26, the SC's Appellate Division upheld the HC order and also asked it to settle in seven days whether the appeal filed by Khaleda seeking bail in the case is acceptable or not.

Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah told The Daily Star that Khaleda Zia cannot get released from jail as her bail has been scrapped following the HC order.

KHALEDA SEEKS BAIL

The BNP chairperson yesterday filed a petition with the HC, seeking bail in a case filed over demeaning Liberation War martyrs.

The HC may hold a hearing on the petition, said her lawyer Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman.

In January 2016, AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, filed the case.