Khaleda arrives in court to apply for bail

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has arrived in court seeking bail in three cases in which arrest warrants were issued against her.

Khaleda left her home in Gulshan for the temporary location of the Special Judge’s Court in Bakshibazar around 10:30am to turn herself in over the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, said her lawyer Sanaullah Miah.

She will request bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, said Miah.

The Zia Welfare Trust graft case is to be heard at the same court on Thursday.

The BNP chief flew to London on Jul 15 to receive treatment for her eyes and knees. She spent Eid at the home of her elder son Tarique Rahman.

Warrants against Khaleda had been issued in the Zia Orphanage Trust case, a case over inciting violence and a defamation case while she was in London. BNP leaders claimed the government was responsible for the warrants.

“The warrant issues were largely a political matter and I believe the decisions were taken for political reasons,” said BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed.

A warrant had been issued against the three-time former prime minister in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case after she failed to appear at a hearing set for Oct 12.

Another warrant was issued by the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s court after Khaleda failed to answer a summons over ‘disrespecting the national flag’.

On Aug 9, the Comilla District and Sessions Judge’s court also issued a warrant against ‘absconding’ Khaleda in a case over the petrol bombing of a bus in BNP protests in Chauddagram.