High Court resumes Khaleda hearing in Zia Orphanage Trust case

The High Court has resumed a hearing on an appeal filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging a verdict that jailed her for five years in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The HC bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim started the hearing at around 11am on Thursday. 

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

AJ Mohammad Ali, Moudud Ahmed, Zainul Abedin and Mahbub Uddin Khokan were present in court on behalf of Khaleda.

Deputy Attorney General Farhad Ahmed and ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan were also present in the court.

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.