Khaleda’s bail to be decided by SC on May 15

BNP leader Khaleda Zia’s bail order in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, in which she is now serving a five-year term in jail, will be settled by the Supreme Court on May 15.

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain-led four-member bench of the Appellate Division set the date today after completing hearing on two appeals against the bail given to her by the High Court.

During hearing, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam prayed to the apex court to scrap the bail given to Khaleda.

Khaleda’s lawyers – AJ Mohammad Ali, Advocate Khandakar Mahbub Hossian, Advocate Zainul Abedin, and Barrister Moudud Ahmed – prayed to the apex court to uphold the bail order.

It is to be noted that today’s hearing went on amid commotion and disturbance created by some lawyers, which had compelled the chief justice to burst out during mid-hearing.

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 fixed yesterday for hearing the petitions.

After partial hearing yesterday, today was set for its completion.