Order on Khaleda's bail in two cases May 17

Two separate Dhaka courts yesterday fixed May 17 for passing order on bail petitions in two cases filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for undermining the country's map and national flag and celebrating “fake” birthday.

The magistrates of the courts, set up at Alia Madrasa in the capital's Bakshibazar, set the same date after Khaleda's lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder moved petitions seeking bail in the cases.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Khurshid Alam heard the petition of the case filed for celebrating “fake” birthday while Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ahsan Habib for undermining the country's map and national flag.

Earlier on April 12, the lawyer submitted the bail petitions, but the courts fixed yesterday for hearing those. Arrest warrants were earlier issued against Khaleda as she did not secure bail from any other courts in the cases.

UNDERMINING COUNTRY'S FLAG

On November 3 of 2016, AB Siddique, president of Jananetri Parishad, filed the case accusing Khaleda and her late husband and former president Ziaur Rahman of undermining the country's map and national flag.

Dropping Zia's name from the case as he is dead, investigation officer of the case submitted the probe report to the court on February 25.

FAKE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

On August 30, 2016, Gazi Zahirul Islam, former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists, filed the case against Khaleda for allegedly celebrating fake birthdays on August 15 every year.

In the complaint, he mentioned that Khaleda's actual date of birth was not August 15, but she celebrates her birthday on that date every year to undermine and dishonour Bangabandhu.

CONCISE STATEMENT OF GRAFT CASE

Khaleda Zia has recently filed with the Supreme Court two separate concise statements on the appeals against the High Court order that granted her bail in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case in which she was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

A concise statement contains the points on which the lawyers place arguments on an appeal petition before the court.

Khaleda Zia's lawyers have submitted the concise statements earlier this week as per directives issued by the apex court on March 19.