The Supreme Court today upheld the High Court orders that stayed the trial proceedings against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in four more separate vandalism and arson cases filed in 2015.

The apex court, however, asked the High Court to hear and dispose of the rules issued in connection with the cases filed with Darussalam and Jatrabari Police Stations.

It asked Attorney General Mahbubey Alam to take necessary steps for HC hearing on the rules.

A six-member bench of the Appellate Division of the SC, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, came up with the orders after virtually hearing four separate leave to appeal petitions filed by the state seeking stay on the HC orders.

Alam appeared for the state while lawyers AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Bodruddoza Badal represented Khaleda Zia during the virtual proceedings of the court.

Badal told The Daily Star that the High Court stay orders on the trial proceedings of Khaleda will remain in force following the apex court orders.

The HC will hold hearing on the rules for their disposals, he said, adding that Khaleda is on bail in these cases.

Bodruddoza said Khaleda is accused in a total of 37 cases and she is on bail on 35 cases; she has been convicted in two (Zia Orphsnge and Zia Charitable) cases.

The BNP chairperson got release from jail following an executive order issued by the government on March 25 this year.

Following four separate petitions filed by Khaleda, the HC in May 2017 stayed the trial proceedings against her in four separate vandalism and arson cases and also issued four rules asking the government to explain as to why the proceedings of the cases should not be scrapped.

The cases were filed during anti-government agitation enforced by BNP-led alliance in 2015.

Earlier, on August 17, the SC upheld High Court orders that stayed the trial proceedings against Khaleda in four other separate vandalism and arson cases filed in 2015.