Supreme Court upholds stay on Khaleda Zia’s bail in Cumilla murder case

The Supreme Court has upheld the stay on the High Court decision granting BNP chief Khaleda Zia bail in the Cumilla murder case over the firebombing of a bus in 2015.

A four-member appellate bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain made the decision on Monday, settling the appeal petition by the state against the bail.

According to the decision, the rule issued by the High Court on the matter must be settled within four weeks. The Chamber Justice-ordered stay on the bail will be maintained until then.

This means that the BNP chairperson will have to remain in jail for another month, even if she receives bail in the other case filed against her.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state at the hearing. Khaleda Zia’s defence team was represented by AJ Mohammad Ali, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Zainul Abedin and Mahbub Uddin Khokon.

Eight people were killed after a night coach was petrol bombed in Chauddagram on Feb 3, 2015 during the BNP-Jamaat alliance’s protests. Two separate cases – one for murder, the other under the Explosives Act – were filed over the incident.

A warrant was issued for Khaleda’s arrest after police filed the charge sheet in the two cases. The state then filed to have her shown arrested over the graft case in Dhaka.

The Cumilla Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court then ordered Khaleda Zia to be brought for a hearing on Mar 26. The BNP chief has yet to be brought to court due to her illness.

Khaleda’s lawyers then moved the Cumilla District and Sessions Judge’s court for her bail in the two cases on Apr 23. The hearing has been set for Jun 7. Khaleda’s lawyers then requested the date be brought forward, but the proposal was rejected.

BNP leaders had hoped for her release from prison before Eid when the High Court approved her bail on two Cumilla cases on May 28.

However, the Chamber Judge stayed the bail order following an appeal by the state. The bail was again deferred after the Appellate Division upheld the stay and scheduled a hearing for the bail appeal on Jun 24.

The hearings began after the Supreme Court’s Eid break.

The Appellate Division then set Jul 2 to decide the bail in the murder case over the fire-bombing incident.

BNP leaders have been accusing the government of 'scheming' to prevent Khaleda Zia's release on bail. Awami League leaders denied the charge, saying it was a judicial decision taken without any involvement from the ruling party.