HC to pass orders on Khaleda’s bail pleas tomorrow

The High Court will pass its orders tomorrow on two separate petitions filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking bail in two separate defamation cases against her.

The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Abdul Habib and Justice Ahmed Sohel fixed the date for passing order after concluding hearing on the bail petitions today.

AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a front organisation of ruling Awami League filed the cases with a Dhaka court against Khaleda in 2014 and 2017 for making derogatory comments hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims and for his remarks on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Khaleda Zia filed two petitions with the High Court on May 22 seeking bail in the cases.

Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali argued for Khaleda while Deputy Attorney General Fazlur Rahman Khan opposed the bail petitions.

Later, she was also convicted in Zia Charitable Trust graft case and handed a seven-year term.

In the appeal against her punishment in Zia Orphanage graft, a higher court increased her punishment to 10 years in prison.