Dispose of Khaleda's bail pleas

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday directed the lower courts concerned in Dhaka to dispose of the bail pleas of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, in two defamation cases filed on charges of observing “fake” birthday and “demeaning” the national flag.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order following a hearing on the two leave-to-appeal petitions filed by the government.

On May 31, High Court (HC) ordered the trial courts concerned to expeditiously hear and dispose of the bail petitions.

However, the government yesterday morning filed two leave-to-appeal petitions with the SC challenging the HC order.

After the hearing, the SC chamber judge issued the order and sent the leave-to-appeal petitions to the full bench of the apex court for hearing on June 25.

The magistrate courts concerned will decide on when they will hear the bail petitions of Khaleda Zia, said Additional Attorney General Murad Reza.

Khaleda filed the petitions with the HC on May 22 seeking bail in the two cases lodged against her in 2016.

Former Joint General Secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Gazi Zahirul Islam filed a case against her for allegedly celebrating “fake” birthday on August 15 every year.

Additionally, in November 2016, AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, sued the BNP chief for undermining the national flag and map of Bangladesh.

Earlier, in March this year, Khaleda filed two separate petitions with the CMM court seeking bail in the cases.

COMILLA COURT

Meanwhile another bench of HC yesterday directed a Comilla court to expeditiously hear and dispose of another bail petition filed by the former prime minister in an arson case.

A vandalism case was filed under Special Powers Act 1974 after seven people died and many others were injured after a bus was set ablaze in Chouddagram upazila in February 2015.

Later, another case was also filed with murder charges in connection with the same incident. Both the cases were filed with Chouddagram Police Station.

The HC bench of Justice Md Shawkat Hossain and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the BNP chief seeking bail in the case.

The former prime minister stands accused in 34 cases and landed in jail on February 8 this year, after a Dhaka court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in connection with Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain appeared for Khaleda, while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam opposed the bail petition.