Supreme Court sets Khaleda’s bail verdict for Tuesday

The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on Tuesday on appeals filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the state challenging the High Court’s bail order for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

After wrapping up a two-day hearing on Wednesday, the Appellate Division has set the date for the verdict.

Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, Justice Muhammad Imman Ali, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and Justice Mirza Hussain Haider started the hearing at 9:15am.

As the judges started hearing the case on the first day, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam presented his arguments on the appeal challenging the bail petition. Following Alam’s argument, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam presented his arguments on behalf of the state, assisted by Additional Attorney General Murad Reza.

After their arguments, AJ Mohammad Ali who moved for Khaleda made his arguments and pleaded for her bail.

On the second day on Wednesday, Ali resumed his previously unfinished arguments.  He was followed by BNP lawyers Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Zainul Abedin and Moudud Ahmed. Ali then finished his arguments.

“We firmly believe the Appellate Division will uphold the High Court’s order on the bail. Don’t create any contradictory instance by interfering in the bail order,” Ali said.

Countering the arguments made by BNP lawyers, the attorney general said: “The arguments presented by Khaleda Zia’s lawyers were an old issue. Khaleda Zia continued to do politics despite her illness. It means her illness is now at a tolerable level. Her bail will just delay justice.”

Pro-BNP lawyers, Jamir Uddin Sircar and Sanaullah Mia were also present during the hearing.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and BNP standing committee member Dr Moyeen Khan were also present in the court.

The BNP chief has been in the old jailhouse on Nazimuddin Road since Feb 8 when a special court sentenced her to five years in prison for corruption in the orphanage trust.

The High Court on Mar 12 granted Khaleda a four-month interim bail, considering her age and health issues after the special court released the full verdict.

When ACC and the State moved the Appellate Division, it suspended the bail order until May 8, allowing these two to start appeals against the bail.

The authorities formed a team of doctors to treat her and she was taken to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on Apr 7 for a checkup.

The 73-year-old former prime minister is suffering from problems in her heart, eyes and knee, her doctors earlier said. She is on regular medication.

The ACC had filed the corruption case with Ramna Police Station in 2008, accusing Khaleda of embezzling over Tk 20 million that came from a foreign bank as grants for orphans.