Supreme Court sets Khaleda’s bail verdict for Tuesday

Supreme Court sets Khaleda’s bail
verdict for Tuesday

The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on
Tuesday on appeals filed by the Anti-
Corruption Commission and the state
challenging the High Court’s bail order for
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
After wrapping up a two-day hearing on
Wednesday, the Appellate Division has set the
date for the verdict.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Justice
Muhammad Imman Ali, Justice Hasan Foez
Siddique and Justice Mirza Hussain Haider
started the hearing at 9:15am.
As the judges started hearing the case on the
first day, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam presented
his arguments on the appeal challenging the
bail petition. Following Alam’s argument,
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam presented
his arguments on behalf of the state, assisted
by Additional Attorney General Murad Reza.
After their arguments, AJ Mohammad Ali who
moved for Khaleda made his arguments and
pleaded for her bail.
On the second day on Wednesday, Ali resumed
his previously unfinished arguments. He was
followed by BNP lawyers Khandaker Mahbub
Hossain, Zainul Abedin and Moudud Ahmed.
Ali then finished his arguments.
“We firmly believe the Appellate Division will
uphold the High Court’s order on the bail.
Don’t create any contradictory instance by
interfering in the bail order,” Ali said.
Countering the arguments made by BNP
lawyers, the attorney general said: “The
arguments presented by Khaleda Zia’s lawyers
were an old issue. Khaleda Zia continued to
do politics despite her illness. It means her
illness is now at a tolerable level. Her bail will
just delay justice.”
Pro-BNP lawyers, Jamir Uddin Sircar and
Sanaullah Mia were also present during the
hearing.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam
Alamgir and BNP standing committee member
Dr Moyeen Khan were also present in the
court.
The BNP chief has been in the old jailhouse on
Nazimuddin Road since Feb 8 when a special
court sentenced her to five years in prison for
corruption in the orphanage trust.
The High Court on Mar 12 granted Khaleda a
four-month interim bail, considering her age
and health issues after the special court
released the full verdict.
When ACC and the State moved the Appellate
Division, it suspended the bail order until May
8, allowing these two to start appeals against
the bail.
The authorities formed a team of doctors to
treat her and she was taken to the
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
on Apr 7 for a checkup.
The 73-year-old former prime minister is
suffering from problems in her heart, eyes and
knee, her doctors earlier said. She is on
regular medication.
The ACC had filed the corruption case with
Ramna Police Station in 2008, accusing
Khaleda of embezzling over Tk 20 million that
came from a foreign bank as grants for
orphans.