The High Court today deferred again the bail hearing of senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas until May 24 in two criminal cases.

Reason cited was Abbas’ senior lawyer Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, who will place the arguments, is currently busy for the May 20 Bangladesh Bar Council polls.

The HC bench of Justice Md Ruhul Quddus deferred the hearing to May 24 following the deferral prayer placed by Abbas’ lawyer Nitai Roy Chowdhury.

Deputy Attorney General Bashirullah opposed the time plea during hearing.

Abbas was a BNP blessed candidate for the Dhaka South City Corporation election. But, he was not seen in campaign or during the polls for a likely fear of being arrested.

His wife Afroza Abbas led the polls campaign entirely with Dhaka police warning sternly to keep off “fugitives” accused in criminal cases from the city corporations elections.

Abbas’ bail hearing had been deferred multiple times in the past – the last one being on April 27 where the High Court had set today (May 4) for the hearing.

The two cases he is facing are of Paltan and Motijheel police over charges of violence. Earlier, a HC bench gave split verdict in the bail hearing of these two cases.

The chief justice later appointed a separate bench for disposition of the matter.