SC extends stay on Khaleda’s bail

The apex court today extended the stay against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s bail in two cases of murder and vandalism in Comilla.

It also asked the government to file two separate leave to appeal petitions with this court against the High Court bail order by June 24.

After hearing two separate petitions moved by the government, a three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossein fixed June 24 for hearing the leave to appeal petition.

One of the cases in which Khaleda secured bail by the HC on Monday was filed in connection with vandalising vehicles in Comilla's Chouddagram on January 25, 2015. The other was filed over killing eight people and injuring 25-26 others by setting fire on a bus in Chouddagram on February 2, 2015.

Last Monday, the High Court granted bail to Khaleda in these two cases. But, without wasting time, the state counsels moved petitions against her bail and managed to secure the chamber judge’s stay order on the bails.

'Fake' birthday, 'demeaning' national flag

Meanwhile, the High Court today denied bail to Khaleda Zia in two other cases filed on charge of observing “fake” birthday and “demeaning” the national flag.

The HC however ordered the metropolitan magistrate court concerned in Dhaka to dispose of the bail petition filed by Khaleda in the cases as early as possible.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the order after hearing two separate bail petitions filed by Khaleda.

Khaleda filed the petition with the HC on May 22 seeking bail in the two cases lodged in Dhaka in 2016.

One of the cases was filed by Gazi Zahirul Islam, former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists, on August 30, 2016, with a Dhaka court against Khaleda for allegedly celebrating her “fake” birthday on August 15 every year.

The second case was filed by AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, pro-Awami League organisation, with a Dhaka court on November 3, 2016, accusing Khaleda and her late husband and former president Ziaur Rahman of “undermining” the country's map and national flag.