Khaleda Zia gets bail in 2 cases

A Dhaka court yesterday granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in connection with the cases filed over undermining the national flag and observing “fake birthday” on August 15.

However, she could not walk out of jail as hearing of bail petitions in connection with different cases filed in Comilla and Narail are pending with different courts.

Judge KM Imrul Kayes of the Court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Dhaka passed the order yesterday after Khaleda's lawyer moved two petitions seeking her bail.

In the order, the judge said the bail petitions were granted as all sections filed under the cases are bailable.

Meantime, additional police forces were deployed on the court premises ahead of passing the order as a hue and cry prevailed inside the courtroom earlier in the day over hearing of the petitions.

Earlier on July 11, Khaleda's lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder submitted two petitions seeking bail in the cases against the rejection order of the lower courts.

One of the cases was filed by AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, with a Dhaka court on November 3, 2016accusing Khaleda and her late husband, former president Ziaur Rahman, of “undermining” the country's map and national flag.

The court dropped Ziaur Rahman's name from the charges as he died earlier.

The second case was filed by Gazi Zahirul Islam, former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists, with another Dhaka court on August 30, 2016, accusing Khaleda of celebrating her “fake birthday” on August 15 every year

In another development, Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Judge's Court-5 of Dhaka extended the bail of Khaleda in the Zia Charitable Trust Graft case after her lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder had submitted a petition to that end.

The Supreme Court has meanwhile extended till October 31 for the High Court to hear and dispose of the appeal filed by Khaleda in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order yesterday following two separate petitions filed by Khaleda seeking review of its May 16 order that asked the HC bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim to dispose of her appeal by July 31.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman also extended till August 8 its earlier order that granted bail to the former primer minister in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.