Plea seeks HC bail for Khaleda in Cumilla murder case

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today filed a petition with the High Court seeking bail in a murder case lodged against her in Cumilla in 2015.

The case was filed against Khaleda and 76 others on charge of killing eight people and injuring 25-26 others by torching a bus in Cumilla’s Chouddagram area on February 2, 2015.

Citing from the bail petition, Khaleda’s lawyer Barrister Kayser Kamal told The Daily Star that she (Khaleda) was not involved in the incident for which the case was filed against her.

All the accused in the case except Khaleda Zia have been granted bail, he said, adding that the HC may grant her bail considering her status that she was a prime minister of the country for three times, her old age and illness.

He said a Cumilla court has adjourned the bail petition of Khaleda Zia in this case for four times since November last year.

Barrister Kayser Kamal added that the HC may hold hearing on the bail petition tomorrow.

Khaleda landed in the old central jail in Dhaka on February 8 last year after a special court sentenced her to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. On October 30 last year, the HC enhanced her punishment from five years’ imprisonment to 10 years’ imprisonment in this case.

On November 19 last year, 73-year-old Khaleda filed a petition with the SC challenging the HC verdict that increased her punishment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The BNP chairperson was convicted in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case and sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment by a special court of Dhaka on October 29 last year.

On November 18 last year, she filed an appeal with the HC through her lawyers challenging the trial court verdict.