BNP Chief Khaleda Zia has moved the Appellate Division of the apex court challenging the High Court’s verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

The plea, filed on Thursday (Mar 14), also sought bail and a stay order on the effectiveness of her sentence of 10 year imprisonment.

"The lower court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years in jail in the case, but the High Court passed an order doubling the jail term without allowing the defendant’s counsels to argue which is illogical and unacceptable,” said Barrister Kaisar Kamal, one of Khaleda’s counsel.

On Jan 28, the High Court released the full text of its verdict, doubling the jail term of Khaleda in the graft case to 10 years from five years.

On Oct 30, 2018, the High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman extended the BNP chief's jail term.

On Feb 8, 2018, a special court convicted Khaleda and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft.

Five others accused in the case—including her son and BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman—were sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment each.

Later, on March 12 last year, the BNP chief secured four months' bail from the High Court in the case and moved to the court challenging her conviction. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had sought extension of her jail term to life term imprisonment.

The ACC filed the case against Khaleda and others with Ramna police station on July 3, 2008 accusing them of misappropriating Tk 210 million in donations meant for a trust setup in her husband's name.

Three-time premier Khaleda has been serving her sentence at the capital’s old jailhouse since Feb 8, 2018.