Zia Charitable Trust graft: SC denies bail to Khaleda

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 13:21, Dec 12, 2019 | Updated : 14:53, Dec 12, 2019
A general view of the Supreme Court building of Bangladesh. File Photo/Sazzad Hossain

The Appellate Division has denied BNP chief Khaleda Zia bail in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

A full-bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain gave the order on Thursday (Dec 12), after going through her medical reports.

The bench also ordered the hospital authorities to provide “advance biological treatment,” to her with her consent, Khaleda’s counsels told Bangla Tribune.

On Dec 5, the same bench deferred the hearing to Thursday after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) failed to submit the reports.

The deferral caused pro-BNP lawyers to raise a ruckus causing all six Appellate Division judges to leave the courtroom embarrassed.

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain had termed the incident “unprecedented."

The incident led to CCTV cameras being installed within the Appellate Division courtrooms as well as the court limiting the number of lawyers being allowed during Thursday's hearing.

Previously, on Wednesday (Dec 11), three motorbikes were torched in front of the three gates of the Supreme Court.

Three fire fighting units doused the fire within a couple of minutes and police suspect the incident to be arson as no one has claimed ownership of the bikes.

On Nov 14, Khaleda filed the appeal with the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court order that rejected her bail petition in the case.

On Dec 4, the medical board formed by BSMMU for an update on Khaleda’s health condition filed its report with the university authorities.

On Nov 28, the six-member Appellate Division bench led by the chief justice ordered authorities concerned at BSMMU to submit the report before deferring the hearing of Khaleda's bail appeal.

The High Court on Jul 31 rejected her bail petition in the case, prompting counsels to move the Appellate Division.

Oct 29 last year, a special court in Dhaka sentenced the former premier to seven years in prison on charges the BNP claims as 'false and politically motivated'.

The 74-year-old former prime minister was transferred from the old jailhouse on Nazim Uddin Road to the BSMMU Hospital on Apr 1 this year for treatment.

Earlier, the government formed a board with doctors from the BSMMU to examine Khaleda's health.

The three-time premier 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 cases.

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