HC to hear Hasina's bail petitions tomorrow

The High Court (HC) will hear tomorrow two petitions filed by Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on parole, seeking bail in the Niko and barge-mounted power plant corruption cases against her.
A vacation bench of the High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Anwarul Haque and Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury is set to hear the matter.
Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, who submitted the petition on Sheikh Hasina's behalf, told The Daily Star yesterday that the High Court bench on September 30 fixed October 5 (today) for hearing the matters.
However, this bench is not scheduled to sit on Sundays.
"The High Court bench is scheduled to discharge its functions from Monday to Thursday during the ongoing vacation. The hearing of the bail petitions of Sheikh Hasina will thus be held tomorrow," he said.
Two petitions seeking bail in favour of former premier Sheikh Hasina in the Niko and barge-mounted power plant corruption cases were filed on September 22 with a HC vacation bench. However, the petitions were sent back since the bench had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
On July 7, the HC upon two writ petitions stayed for two months all proceedings of the Niko and barge-mounted power plant cases against Hasina and issued separate rulings asking the government and the ACC to explain why the cases should not be quashed.
In another case, on September 29 the HC rejected a bail petition filed by Sheikh Hasina in an extortion case filed by businessman Noor Ali. The HC bench rejected the bail prayer on grounds that the petitioner (Hasina) must be present in the country to seek bail and she is now abroad on parole for treatment.