Eminent Jurist Kamal Hossain today said that he would provide legal advice to the defence counsel of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her bail.

“They (BNP) gave me the copy of the judgment. I will go through it first and will give legal advice,” Kamal, also Gono Forum president,  told The Daily Star this evening.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of BNP led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met Kamal at his chamber in Motijheel area and sought his legal support in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

When asked whether he would move to the court for Khaleda, the eminent jurist said he did not go through the judgment. "I will have to go through the judgment first,” Kamal said without making any further comment in this regard.

Contacted, Gono Forum leader Subrata Chowdhury, who was present in the meeting, said, “Sir (Dr Kamal) told the BNP delegation that he does not deal with criminal case.”

Talking to The Daily Star, Fakhrul said, "We met Dr Kamal Hossain as a legal consultant at his Motijheel office and handed him over a copy of the judgment."

"He (Kamal) would give us legal advice after going through the judgment," Fakhrul said.  

Khaleda, who landed in jail on February 8 upon conviction in the graft case, has been waiting in jail to know the fate of her bail petition.

The High Court did not pass any order after concluding hearing on her bail petition.

The HC said it will deliver an order on her bail prayer after getting the case records from the lower court that sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage corruption case.

The former prime minister on February 22 filed an appeal with the HC and also sought bail, challenging the special court's verdict.

The HC accepted the bail appeal and stayed the special court's fine of Tk 2.10 crore on Khaleda.

It also ordered the court to send the case documents to it within 15 working days.