Courts starts hearing on Khaleda’s petitions in her absence

Dhaka’s Third Special Judge’s Court has started hearing Khaleda Zia's petitions, including the one to withdraw an arrest warrant, in her absence.

Court proceedings started around 11.30am, when judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar took his seat in the courtroom.

The BNP chief’s counsels have filed separate petitions to withdraw an arrest warrant issued on Feb 25, to uphold her bail and defer the hearings.

Khaleda’s lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali told the court that lack of security was the reason for her not turning up in the court.

Citing a no confidence motion filed with the High Court over the judge, he said:”This is a media trial which is evident from the judge’s order. We have filed a no confidence motion with the higher court and the matter is yet to be resolved.”

The judge then asked the prosecution: "She (Khaleda) has not appeared in the court. Does her lawyers have the jurisdiction to file such petitions?"

“She has no right to file such petitions as she has not turned up for the hearings,” ACC’s lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajal told the court.