The Supreme Court will reopen today (Monday) after 47-day annual vacation. In October, there are several important cases pending in both the divisions of the apex court.
Appeal hearing on Zia Orphanage Trust case in which BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been serving a Dhaka court sentence since February 8, hearing on a writ petition filed by BNP chief seeking the court’s directive on the government to send her to the United Hospital or in any specialized hospital of the city for treatment, and another plea filed by the same person challenging the trial court’s decision to continue the trial proceedings of Zia Charitable Trust case against her in her absence are among the important cases.
Besides, hearing on bail and division facilities of renowned photographer Shahidul Alam and hearing on leave to appeal petition against the decision of compensating the filmmaker Tareque Masud’s family are also fixed in this month.
On February 8, the Special Judge’s Court-5 of Dhaka sentenced Khaleda to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case. High Court hearing of this case is continuing. The High Court extended the bail term of Khaleda Zia till October 3 and adjourned the appeal hearing till October 2 in this case before the vacation.
Meanwhile, the Appellate Division directed to complete the hearing of this case by October 31.
On September 9, Khaleda filed a writ petition seeking the court’s directive on the government to send her to the United Hospital or in any specialized hospital of the city for treatment.
On September 25, the High Court adjourned till October 1 the hearing on the writ petition filed by BNP Chairperson. The bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order saying that the hearing of the petition might be lengthy. But the court has a time constraint as it is now on annual vacation and it will reopen on October 1, the bench said.
On September 15, the five-member medical board, formed by the government for jailed BNP chief Khaleda Zia, submitted its report suggesting admitting her to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), though they have found ‘no symptom of any serious disease’ in her. The government on September 12 formed the medical board comprising five BSMMU expert physicians who examined Khaleda Zia’s physical condition inside Old Dhaka Central Jail.
The lawyers of Khaleda Zia hope that the High Court may hear the writ petition at the starting of the month of October.
On September 20, a Dhaka court exempted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from personal appearance before it and decided to continue the trial of the Zia Charitable Trust case inside Old Dhaka Central Jail in her absence.
But on September 27, Khaleda Zia challenges that order. She filed a petition with the High Court challenging the trial court’s decision to continue the trial proceedings of Zia Charitable Trust case against her in her absence.
Earlier, on September 5, Khaleda Zia appeared before the court and said that she would not appear before it for hearing as she was ill.
Her lawyers said, the court may hear the plea in this month.
On December 3 in 2017, the High Court ordered the authorities concerned to pay Tk 4,61,75,452 as compensation to family members of eminent filmmaker Tareque Masud who was killed in a road accident in 2011.
Following the order, driver Jamir Uddin has to give Tk 30 lakh, the company, which insured the bus, has to give Tk 80,000 and owners of the vehicle has to give the rest of the money in three months after receiving the full judgement of the HC.
But later, the bus owners filed leave to appeal petition against the verdict, which will come on October 8 in the Appellate Division’s cause-list for hearing.
On September 5, the High Court directed the government to award division to photographer Shahidul Alam in jail. Later on September 17, the government filed plea seeking stay on the High Court’s direction. On September 25, the Chamber Judge fixed October 1 for hearing the leave to appeal petition filed by the government challenging the High Court order that asked the authorities concerned to give division facilities to Shahidul Alam in jail.
Besides, on September 18, Shahidul Alam filed a petition with the High Court seeking bail in a case filed on charge of spreading rumours against the state.
He submitted the petition through his lawyer saying that he would not leave the country if he was granted bail in the case.
In the petition, he also said, the Section 57 of the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Act does not cover the allegations brought against him in the case. He prayed to the High Court to grant him bail citing his illness.
