SC adjourns Khaleda’s bail hearing till tomorrow

The appeal hearing against BNP leader Khaleda Zia’s bail in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, in which she is currently serving a five-year term in prison, has been adjourned until tomorrow.

After concluding today’s appeal hearing, the four-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain set tomorrow to resume the hearing of arguments from Khaleda’s side.

Today, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam placed their arguments against High Court’s bail order for Khaleda.

Advocate Khurshid Alam argued against Khaleda’s bail saying that she cannot be given bail “due to the gravity of the offences she committed according to charges”.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam argued that the paperbook on the appeals filed by Khaleda with the High Court against the lower court conviction has already been prepared. “The High Court may acquit her in the appeal, and therefore, the Supreme Court need not grant her bail now.”

Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali then placed Khaleda’s argument in favour of bail. He is scheduled to resume his arguments tomorrow after the court takes seat.

BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Moyeen Khan were present in the courtroom.

The HC on March 12 granted her four months' bail in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case in which she was sentenced to five years in prison. She landed in jail on February 8.

A week later, the SC stayed the HC bail order following two leave-to-appeal petitions filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the government. The apex court also fixed today for hearing the petitions.