Arson: Appeal against Khaleda’s bail

The government has filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking stay on the bail order to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a 2015 arson case filed under the Special Powers Act in Comilla.

After a brief hearing on the petition today, chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hasan Foez Siddique sent the petition to the full bench of the apex court for its hearing tomorrow Thursday.

On Monday, the High Court granted six months’ bail to Khaleda Zia in the arson case filed after eight people were killed and 25-30 others were injured when a bus was torched in Chauddagramupazila of Comilla on February 2, 2015, during the anti-government agitation.

Also, today, the HC fixed August 12 for passing an order on whether the appeal filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking bail in a vandalism case is acceptable or not.

The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman fixed the date after hearing on the issue, Deputy Attorney General Dr Md Bashir Ullah told The Daily Star.

Following the appeal filed by Khaleda, the HC on May 28 granted her bail for six months in the case filed for vandalising a covered van in Chouddagram area in Comilla in 2015.

On June 26, the Supreme Court upheld the HC orderthat granted bail to the BNP chief in the case and also asked the HC to settle in seven days whether the appeal filed by her (Khaleda) seeking bail in this case is acceptable or not.