SC hearing on Khaleda’s review pleas July 29

The Supreme Court today fixed July 29 for hearing two petitions filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking review of its order that asked the High Court to conclude hearing on her appeal in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case by July 31.

Chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC Justice Hasan Foez Siddique fixed the date after a brief hearing on the review petitions.

The full bench of the apex court will hear the review petitions on July 29, Barrister Kayser Kamal, a lawyer for Khaleda, told The Daily Star.

On May 16, the SC directed the HC bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim to conclude hearing on the appeal of Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case by July 31.

On February 8, the Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka sentenced Khaleda to five years' imprisonment after finding her guilty in the graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The Dhaka court also jailed Tarique Rahman, now the acting chairman of BNP, and four others to 10 years’ imprisonment and fined them Tk 2.1 crore.

On July 12, the SC kept the review petitions pending and asked the HC bench led by Justice Enayetur Rahim to start hearing on Khaleda’s appeal against the trial court verdict on her the same day (July 12).

The apex court, however, said any prayer for time will be considered if the HC cannot finish the hearing on her appeal by July 31.

Accordingly, the same day (July 12) the HC bench started hearing on the appeal of Khaleda Zia. The bench has held hearing on the appeal for eight days till July 25.

On July 25, the HC bench extended till July 31 its earlier order that granted bail to Khaleda in the case and fixed 10:30am on July 29 for resuming the hearing on the appeal.