Lawyers have made all preparations to secure Khaleda Zia’s release on bail. Initially, they will appeal for bails in the Zia Charitable Trust and the Zia Orphanage Trust cases.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed has said: “We have submitted the bail appeal at the high court today, Jun 23, and the court has accepted our appeal. The hearing on the appeal will be held this week or the next week.”
Khaleda Zia’s lawyer barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman, said: “We have completed all legal procedures and are ready to carry out the bail hearing.”
Earlier, on Oct 29, 2018, Dhaka Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman sentenced Khaleda Zia to 7 years in prison with Tk 1 million fines in the Zia Charitable Trust case.
Later on Nov 18, Khaleda Zia appealed at the court demanding release from the cases.
High Court ordered a paper book to carry out hearing, which came on Jun 20. However, before the appeal hearing, the lawyers have decided to go for a bail hearing.
Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman said: “Khaleda Zia has no relation with these cases; the other accused in these cases are on bail and she also secured bail on these cases at the lower court.”
Underlining her sickness, age, social status and political identity, bail will be requested, he commented.
In the Zia Orphanage Trust case, the court handed 5 years imprisonment and fine to Khaleda Zia.
Later, during the appeal, the bail was increased. But since the lawyers were not present on the specified date of hearing, the high court increased the punishment to ten years at the appeal of Anti Corruption Commission, ACC.
Regarding bail, Barrister Moudud Ahmed said: “if the government does not create any barrier, Khaleda Zia will get bail.”
However, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan, observed: “the high court will decide if bail can be awarded on these cases or not.”
Also read
