Khaleda’s bail: State, ACC moves chamber judge challenging HC decision

In an effort to freeze bail granted to BNP chief Khaleda Zia, the state and the graft watchdog have moved the Supreme Court’s chamber judge.

The former PM is serving a five-year prison sentence at the old Dhaka prison on Nazimuddin Road since Feb 8 when a Dhaka court convicted her of misusing international donations meant for an orphanage.

The High Court granted her a four-month interim bail on Monday.

On Tuesday, separate petitions have been filed with the Supreme Court’s chamber judge by the state and the Anti-Corruption Commission, seeking a freeze on the HC order.

ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan told the media the chamber judge may hear the matter on Tuesday.

The State had opposed the bail petition in High Court on Monday, arguing that the appeal would be heard quickly and so there would be no need for bail.

The court, however, granted Khaleda bail, on four grounds:

1.  Precedent of granting bail in case of a five-year jail term.

2.  The case documents are with the court, but proceeding for an appeal hearing are yet to  complete, allowing the convict to be granted bail.

3.  Khaleda was out on bail during the trial and appeared in hearings in line with the court’s order.

4.  The convict’s age and health conditions.

The High Court also ordered the paperbook for the appeal hearing to be made within the time of her bail.

Either side can submit appeal for hearing when the paperbook is ready, the court said.