Khaleda’s bail in Zia Orphanage case extended

The High Court today extended till July 26 its earlier order that granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mustafizur Rahman passed the order following a prayer moved by Khaleda’s lawyer Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali seeking extension of her bail.

The Special Judge’s Court-5 of Dhaka on February 8 had sentenced the BNP chief to five years’ imprisonment in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

On March 12, the HC granted four months’ bail to Khaleda in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Following an extension petition filed by Khaleda, the HC on May 12 extended her (Khaleda) bail till tomorrow.

Meanwhile today, the same HC bench continued for fifth day the hearing on Khaleda’s appeal challenging the trial court verdict on her in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

After concluding today’s proceedings, the bench adjourned the hearing till 2:00pm on July 22, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star.

The trial court had also jailed BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and four others to 10 years’ imprisonment in this case and fined them Tk 2.1 crore each.