Charitable Trust graft: SC defers Khaleda bail hearing to Dec 12

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 11:48, Dec 05, 2019 | Updated : 15:58, Dec 05, 2019

The 73-year-old former prime minister was admitted to the BSMMU with pain in joints of her hands and legs, and diabetes on Monday (Apr 1).The Appellate Division has deferred the hearing against BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s bail plea in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case to Dec 12.

A six-member bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain gave the order on Thursday (Dec 5), after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital authorities failed to submit her medical reports.

Immediately after the order, pro-BNP lawyers raised a ruckus causing all six Appellate Division judges to leave the courtroom embarrassed.

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.

Junior lawyers, however, blocked the senior counsels from leaving the courtroom, adamant about not leaving without a verdict.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam who represented the state during the hearing demanded that the chief justice initiate measures against Khaleda’s counsels for the ruckus.

“Khaleda Zia’s counsels, through their behavior have set an unprecedented record of dishonouring the court,” he said while briefing the media after leaving the courtroom.

Condemning the lawyers’ protest, he said, “I request the chief justice to initiate legal measures against the pro-BNP lawyers.”

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 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.

Also Read:

Unprecedented: CJ on courtroom ruckus

Khaleda bail: Pro-BNP lawyers raise ruckus in courtroom

Govt intervened in Khaleda report filing: BNP

Quader warns of “fitting reply” against chaos in Khaleda bail issue

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