A Dhaka court today granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases in her presence at the courtroom.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar of the Special Judge's Court-3 passed the order after Sanaullah Miah, a counsel for Khaleda, submitted two separate bail petitions before the court in the two graft cases.

The court also granted bail to two other accused -- former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed.  

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till May 5, in response to a time petition submitted by the defence saying that they need of some important documents which were seized by the investigation officer of the cases from different places.

The prosecution did not oppose the bail considering her status, social and political dignity and age, chief prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol told the court.

While passing the order, Judge Jomadar said that he has no wish to send the BNP chief to jail on her age ground. If she is found innocent she will be acquitted, the judge said.

Khaleda and two other accused, who got bail today, must appear before the court on every scheduled date of the case, the court said.

If she fails to appear before the court, lawyer can file an application to represent her in the court in her absence, it added.

During the hearing, Khaleda was allowed to sit on a chair at the courtroom.  

Staring from her Gulshan office, Khaleda, accompanied by BNP vice chairman Selima Rahman and President of BNP women’s front Shirin Sultana, entered the court premises in Bakshibazar around 10:33am amid tight security.

The members of different law enforcement agencies including police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Gourd Bangladesh and plainclothes were deployed on the court premises to maintain law and order. A checkpost was also been set up in front of the main entrance of the court.

After she entered the court, a group of leaders and activists of BNP women front attempted to bring out a procession from a road near Dhaka Medical College and Hospital towards Bakshibazar court but faced police resistance. Later, they took to the street and offered prayer so that Khaleda secures bail.

After three months, Khaleda has come out of her office at Gulshan-2, where she was staying since January 3.

On February 25, the Special Judge's Court-3 cancelled her bail and issued warrants for her arrest for dodging court hearing on four consecutive dates.

Following issuance of the warrants, she lost the right to defend herself in the two cases until she surrenders, as the court declared her a fugitive.

During a hearing of the cases on March 4, Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar said, "She [Khaleda] can contest the cases if she surrenders before the court in future."

If she does so, this will be the first time Khaleda surrenders to a court in her political career of more than three decades.

From her Gulshan office, Khaleda was giving instructions to her party leaders on the anti-government agitation.

The BNP-led alliance enforced a non-stop nationwide blockade from January 6, and observed a series of shutdowns to force the government to call fresh polls.

Meanwhile, police last evening allowed BNP men to enter the party's central office in Nayapaltan after three months.

On Friday night, law enforcers, who had kept the BNP central office locked since January 3, were withdrawn from in front of it.

They were stationed there for more than three months to prevent BNP men from entering the office.

The development came after the BNP made major changes in its strategy.

The party shifted its focus to city corporation elections from street agitation. BNP-backed aspirants filed nomination papers to contest mayoral polls in the three city corporations slated for April 28.

When Khaleda last appeared before the court on December 24, Bangladesh Chhatra League activists swooped on BNP men, who had gathered in the Bakshibazar area.

THE CASES

According to the charge sheet of the Zia Orphanage case, Khaleda, Tarique and four others embezzled Tk 2.1 crore by forming the charity that exists only on paper.

The statement of the other case say the BNP chief and three others abused power to collect Tk 6.19 crore for Zia Charitable Trust during the BNP-led government's tenure between 1991 and 1996.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed both the cases.

Khaleda has been irregular in attending case proceedings. She has refrained from appearing before the court on 56 out of 63 dates for hearing in the two cases.