Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court on Monday extended its earlier order that stayed the bail granted by the High Court to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a murder case lodged with Chouddagram Police Station, Cumilla, during the BNP’s countrywide blockade programme in 2015.
The apex court, at the same time, asked the High Court to hear and dispose of the rule in connection with the bail in four weeks.
The case was filed on charge of the death of seven persons and injuring of 25-26 others by torching a bus in Cumilla’s Chouddagram on February 2, 2015.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after hearing a leave-to-appeal petition filed by the government challenging the High Court’s bail order.
On May 28, the High Court granted six months bail to Khaleda in this case and issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why Khaleda Zia should not be granted regular bail in this case.
Later the government filed appeal petition to cancel the bail. The Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division stayed the bail considering the appeal petition and sent the case to the full bench of the Appellate Division for further hearing. The full bench of the Supreme Court on May 31 upheld the stay order on bail and directed the government to file regular appeal petition within June 24. Later, the government filed regular appeal petition.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Deputy Attorney General Biswajit Deb Nath appeared in the court in favor of the leave to appeal petition, while Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain and Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan stood for Khaleda Zia.
