Staff Reporter :
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the High Court order that directed the Magistrate Courts to dispose of two bail petitions filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in connection with two cases filed on charges of observing birthday on August 15 and “demeaning” the national flag.
A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order by dismissing two leave to appeal petitions filed by the government challenging the HC order.
The HC on May 31 ordered the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Courts in Dhaka to expeditiously hear and dispose of the bail petitions filed by Khaleda in the cases. The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the order after hearing two separate bail petitions filed by Khaleda.
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 A B Siddique, President of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a 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.
Meanwhile, the said Supreme Court bench fixed today (Tuesday) to pass an order on a leave to appeal petition filed by the government challenging the High Court order that granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a vandalism case.
The case was filed in connection with vandalising vehicles in Cumilla’s Chouddagram area on January 25, 2015.
The HC granted six months bail to Khaleda in this case on May 28.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam placed argument in the apex court for canceling the HC order of bail.
On the other side, Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Advocate A J Mohammad Ali and Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan appeared for Khaleda Zia.
They prayed to the apex court to uphold the HC order that granted bail to Khaleda in this case.
A covered van was set on fire and vandalised in Chauddagram on Jan 25, 2015, during the blockade programme called by the BNP-led alliance. Later, a case was filed with the Chauddagram Police Station under the Special Power Act.
