Pro-BNP lawyers have raised a ruckus in the courtroom after the Appellate Division, scheduled to deliver the verdict on BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s bail plea in Zia Charitable Trust graft case, wanted to defer the hearing on account of not receiving her medical reports.
All six Appellate Division judges left the court-room embarrassed after the senior lawyers failed to bring the situation under control on Thursday (Dec 5).
Meanwhile, junior lawyers have blocked the senior counsels from leaving the courtroom without a verdict.
Senior counsels Jainul Abedin, AJ Mohammad Ali, Khandaker Mahmud Hossain and Barrister Moudud Ahmed, who stood for Khaleda, tried to bring the situation under control and ordered the protesting lawyers to leave the premises.
They, however, stood their ground, refusing to leave without a verdict.
Md Khurshid Alam stood for the Anti Corruption Commission and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state.
The BNP counsels were also seen getting in an argument with the prosecution.
Earlier, security was beefed-up on Supreme Court premises, ahead of the hearing against the former premier.
Previously on Wednesday (Dec 4), the medical board formed by the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for an update on Khaleda’s health condition filed its report to the university authorities.
On Nov 28, the six-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain ordered authorities concerned at BSMMU to submit the report before deferring the hearing of Khaleda's bail appeal until Thursday.
The High Court on Jul 31 rejected Khaleda’s bail petition in the case, prompting counsels to move the Appellate Division.
Oct 29 last year, a special court in Dhaka sentenced Khaleda to seven years in prison on charges the BNP claims as 'false and politically motivated'.
The 74-year-old former prime minister was transferred to the BSMMU Hospital on Apr 1 this year for treatment from the old jailhouse on Nazim Uddin Road.
Earlier, the government formed a board with doctors from the BSMMU to examine Khaleda's health.
Khaleda has been in prison since February last year serving a total of 17 years in jail in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
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