Khaleda’s appeals remain unheard
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's appeals against her convictions in two corruption cases -- centring Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust -- have remained undisposed for years, as her lawyers have not taken any steps for hearings.
Hearings are supposed to take place at the Appellate Division and High Court.
Khaleda was sentenced to five years' imprisonment by a special court in Dhaka on February 8, 2017, in the orphanage trust graft case.
On October 30, 2018, the HC enhanced her punishment to 10 years after dismissing her appeal in the case.
The former prime minister was convicted by another special court in Dhaka in the charitable trust corruption case on October 29, 2018. She was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.
Her lawyers reportedly have no plans at this moment to take initiative in this regard, considering the prevailing political climate. But they know very well that she cannot contest in elections if her convictions are not scrapped by the apex court.
"There are two ways: the courts [Appellate Division and High Court] can fix [hearing] dates on their own or lawyers can request the courts for hearings. Lawyers collectively need to take a decision for hearings. I alone cannot do that. The party members and lawyers will have to hold a meeting on this issue," Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, a veteran lawyer and adviser to BNP chairperson, told The Daily Star.
Lawyer AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, joint secretary general of BNP, told this correspondent that when the appeals will appear in the courts' hearing lists, maintaining serial, they will place arguments on behalf of the BNP chairperson.
"We have submitted the appeals to the Appellate and High Court divisions, as we did not get justice from the courts that have convicted her [Khaleda] in two cases. We will think about moving the appeals when the Awami League-led government will not remain in power," he said, adding that the election period is yet to come.
Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption Commission's lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that Khaleda could not participate in the last parliamentary election, as she has been convicted in two corruption cases.
If her convictions are not scrapped by the Supreme Court, she will not be able to contest in the next elections as per article 66(2)(d) of the constitution, he said.
Khurshid also said they (ACC lawyers) are ready to place arguments against the appeals.
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