High Court extends Khaleda’s bail in Zia Orphanage Trust case by seven days

The High Court has extended BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s four-month bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case by seven days.

After hearing an appeal filed by Khaleda challenging a verdict that jailed her for five years in the corruption case, the HC bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order on Thursday as her bail expired.

The court also deferred the hearing until Sunday.

Khaleda's lawyer Abdur Rezak Khan read out a paper book, a dossier that contains all the details of a case, trial proceedings, statements, evidence, verdicts and other documents.

On the extension of the bail, Khaleda’s lawyer Moudud Ahmed said: “On July 19, we will again apply for the bail extension. I think there will be no problem with this.”

The Appellate Division in a ruling on May 16 upheld a High Court order that granted four months’ bail to Khaleda in the case and instructed the HC bench to hear and dispose of her appeal by July 31.

Following the order, the HC bench started a hearing on the appeal challenging the lower court verdict that on Feb 8 sentenced her to five years in jail.

In the trial court, the former prime minister was convicted of stealing Tk 21 million in foreign donation meant for the Trust.

The graft watchdog started the case nine years ago, in July 2008 during the military-installed caretaker regime.