The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday fixed October 1 for hearing two petitions filed by the government seeking stay on the High Court orders that granted bail to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in two defamation cases.

The full bench of the apex court will hear the petitions, Deputy Attorney General MA Kamrul Ahsan Khan said.

After a brief hearing, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique sent the petitions to the full bench for hearing on October 1.

However, the HC orders on Khaleda's bail will remain effective until further order, Barrister Kayser Kamal, the BNP chief's lawyer said.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam moved the petitions while Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali appeared for Khaleda.

The government on August 16 filed the petitions with the apex court seeking stay on the bail orders.

According to the petitions, the BNP chief cannot get bail in the cases as she made derogatory comments about the number of Liberation War martyrs and demeaned Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Meanwhile, a Comilla court fixed September 12 for further hearing on a bail petition filed by Khaleda Zia in connection with a vandalism case filed under the special powers act.

Judge Shamsul Alam fixed the date after hearing arguments from the defence and prosecution, reports our Comilla correspondent.