The hearing on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's bail petition in connection with a murder case filed for killing eight persons by arson in Cumilla, has been deferred to January 16 by a Cumilla court yesterday.

The case was filed on charges of killing eight people and injuring 25 to 26 others by torching a bus in Chouddagram upazila in February 2015.

The court also set the same date for hearing on charge-framing against Khaleda and other accused in the case.

Also read: Khaleda seeks bail in Cumilla murder case

Judge (Acting) Habibur Rahman of District and Sessions Judge's Court of Cumilla passed the order after the prosecution submitted a petition seeking adjournment of the hearing.    

Public Prosecutor Mostafizur Rahman Liton said the court fixed the new date for hearing on the bail petition and charge-framing as the District and Sessions Judge will join the court tomorrow.

Khaleda was not named in the first information report (FIR). But later, her name was included in the charge sheet after her involvement was found.

Earlier, the BNP chief was also sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and seven years' jail term in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.