Hossen Sohel: The bail of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been extended for a day in Zia Charitable Trust Graft case as the court is scheduled to hear arguments from defence today, reports The Daily Star.
Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of the Special Judge Court-5 passed the order after Khaleda’s lawyer Sanaullah Miah submitted a petition seeking an extension of her bail in the case.
Khaleda’s lawyer also submitted another petition seeking adjournment of the hearing until her health improves.
Meanwhile, two other accused in the case — Ziaul Huq Munna and Monirul Islam — expressed no-confidence on the judge.
The court however cancelled the bail of Ziaul Huq Munna and sent him to jail.
On September 20, the Dhaka court exempted Khaleda from personal appearance before it and decided to continue the trial of the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case inside Old Dhaka Central Jail in her absence.
The judge on September 20 extended Khaleda’s bail in the case till today (September 24).
The court also ordered the jail authorities to provide Khaleda treatment in jail as per the Jail Code after the defence lawyer submitted an appeal.
On February 8, the same special court awarded Khaleda five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case and sentenced her elder son Tarique Rahman, now acting BNP chairman, and four others to 10 years’ imprisonment each.
The ACC lodged the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon Police Station in August 2011, accusing Khaleda and three others of abusing the power to raise funds for the trust from unknown sources.