Two Dhaka courts yesterday fixed July 5 for passing orders on the bail petitions by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in connection with the cases filed for "undermining” the national flag and celebrating "fake" birthday on August 15.

The courts of Metropolitan Magistrate Md Khurshid Alam and Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ahsan Habib fixed the date to pass orders on the bail petitions. 

The Appellate Division on June 11 directed the lower courts to dispose off the bail petitions by June 25, said Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder, one of the lawyers for Khaleda.

“The non disposal of the bail petitions within the stipulated time set by the highest court is a violation of the Supreme Court order which is tantamount to the contempt of court,” Masud said. Khaleda was convicted and sent to jail on February 8 in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and later shown arrested in seven other cases filed in Dhaka, Comilla, Khulna and Narail.

Meanwhile, the SC is set to hear on Sunday the leave-to-appeal petitions filed by the government challenging the bail of BNP chief in the Comilla criminal cases.

In the petitions, the government said the HC has failed to consider the fact that the incidents of killing and vandalism took place at the instruction and instigation of Khaleda Zia and she cannot get bail in the cases filed in connection with the incidents, said Attorney General Mahbubey Alam.

On May 28, the HC granted anticipatory bail for six months to Khaleda Zia in two cases.