Staff Reporter :
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday sought medical board’s report to know the latest physical condition of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia before passing order on a bail petition filed in the Zia Charitable Trust case.
It asked the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to place Khaleda’s health report in the apex court on December 5.
The court also fixed the same date for passing order on the bail petition filed by the former prime minister in the case in which she was sentenced for seven years by a trial court.
A six-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order while holding hearing on the bail petition yesterday.
Advocate Zainul Abedin took part in the hearing on behalf of Khaleda Zia. Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, Barrister Mainul Hosein, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan and Barrister Kayser Kamal were also present in the court for the BNP chief.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared in the court for Anti-Corruption Commission and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stood for the State.
During the hearing, Advocate Zainul Abedin prayed to the court to grant bail to Khaleda Zia on humanitarian ground as she is sick seriously and considering her age. Then the court called for her medical report.
BNP chairperson’s counsel Barrister Kayser Kamal filed the bail petition with the Appellate Division on November 14 after being rejected by the High Court bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice S M Kuddus Zaman on July 31 this year.
A special court in Dhaka on October 29, 2018 convicted Khaleda in connection with the Zia Charitable Trust case and sentenced her to seven-year rigorous imprisonment.
On November 18, 2018, Khaleda Zia filed an appeal with the High Court challenging the lower court verdict and sought acquittal in the case. At the same time she filed a bail petition in the case, which was rejected by HC on July 31.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust case against Khaleda, Harris, Ziaul and Monirul with Tejgaon police on August 8, 2011.
The BNP Chief landed in jail on February 8 last year after a Dhaka court sentenced her to five years imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case. The High Court on October 30 last year enhanced the punishment of Khaleda to 10 years imprisonment in this case.
