Zia Orphanage Trust graft case: HC expresses dissatisfaction at Khaleda’s lawyers

High Court today expressed dissatisfaction at the lawyers for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia as they did not appear before it on time for placing arguments on her appeal against the trial court verdict in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The lawyers [for Khaleda] didn’t become present before the court even after they took time from it. They have not even submitted any written arguments on her appeal despite the court asking them to do so, a HC bench said.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice MdMostafizur Rahman also said the lawyers appeared before them on time for extending the bail of Khaleda Zia in the case.

Justice Eanayetur said they have a time limit for finishing the hearing of the appeal as the Appellate Division of the SC has asked them to dispose of it by October 31.

Advocate AJ Mohamad Ali, who argued for Khaleda, did not response to the dissatisfaction expressed by the HC bench, Anti-Corruption Commission’s lawyer KhurshidAlam Khan told The Daily Star.

The bench, however, continued for 21st day the hearing on the appeal filed by Khaleda challenging the trial court verdict that sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the case.

The court also fixed 10:30am tomorrow for resuming the hearing on the appeal.

Khaleda Zia has been in jail after being sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a Dhaka court on February 8 this year in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

Meanwhile yesterday, another HC bench of Justice Obaidul HassanandJustice S M Kuddus Zaman started hearing on a revision petition filed by the BNP chairperson seeking a stay on the proceedings against her in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

The bench also fixed today for resuming hearing on the petition.

Khaleda Zia filed the revision petition with the HC on September 27 also challenging the legality of a trial court decision to continue the proceedings of the case in her absence.

In the petition she prayed to issue a rule on the ACC and the government to explain why the lower court's decision should not be scrapped.

On September 20, a Dhaka court decided to continue the trial of the case inside old Dhaka central jail in her absence.