The High Court has denied bail to incarcerated BNP chief Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable graft case for which she is serving a seven-year term.
Khaleda’s counsel withdrew the bail petition after the hearing by the bench of Justice Farid Ahmed and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin on Wednesday (Sept 11).
On July 31, the bench of justices Obaidul Hassan and S M Kuddus Zaman rejected a bail petition on her behalf. Her counsels then filed another bail plea on Sept 3.
On Nov 18 last year, the former premier moved the HC challenging the verdict in the case given by a lower court.
On Apr 30 of this year, the HC accepted her appeal, staying the fine and issued a status quo on the confiscation of her assets.
On Oct 29, 2018, a special court in Dhaka, found Khaleda guilty in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case—in absentia—and sentenced her to seven years in prison.
A three-time prime minister, she is also serving time for her involvement in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. Her sentence, which was five years, was doubled to 10 years by the HC.