The High Court (HC) has set Oct 14 to give its decision over BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s plea to freeze the trial proceedings of the Zia Charitable Trust graft.
Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice SM Quddus Zaman gave the order on Wednesday (Oct 10) after it finished hearing the matter.
Khaleda filed a revision plea with the High Court on Sept 27 seeking to stay the trial proceedings.
The plea also sought a rule from the court seeking explanation over the order by the special judge’s court to continue the trial in absence of the former prime minister.
On Sept 20, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 ordered the continuation of the trial proceedings of the case at the Old Dhaka Central Jail in absence of Khaleda.
Judge Md Akhteruzzaman passed the order following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sept 13.
On Sept 4, a gazette notification was published to hold the trial at the Old Dhaka Central Jail after setting up a makeshift court there.
Khaleda was produced in court the next day when she stated that she was sick and she will neither be able to appear before the court repeatedly nor can stay there for a long time.
The ACC started the Zia Charitable Trust graft case in 2010 against the BNP chief and three others for embezzlement of Tk 31.5 million from Zia Orphanage Trust.
In February this year, the three-time prime minister was sentenced to five years in jail for her involvement in the graft.
Khaleda had been the sole inmate at the old jailhouse in Nazimuddin Road, until she was admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital on Saturday (Oct 6) for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.