Khaleda’s bail in Cumilla case: SC asks state to file leave to appeal petition

The Supreme Court Appellate Division has told the state to file a ‘leave to appeal’ petition to challenge High Court decision granting bail to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Special Powers Act case over the firebombing of a bus in Cumilla in 2015.

A six-member appellate bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain issued the order on Thursday after hearing a petition filed by the state seeking a freeze on Khaleda’s bail.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, accompanied by Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Md Bashir Ullah, represented the state during the hearing while Khaleda’s lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali was accompanied by Barrister Kayser Kamal.

The Appellate Division has asked the authorities concerned to file a ‘leave to appeal’ petition (an application seeking permission to continue appeal) within Dec 13, said DAG Bashir Ullah.

The court upheld the High Court decision and submitted the petitions to the appellate bench during the hearing, said Barrister Kamal.

 “The Appellate Division granted a week to file a ‘leave to appeal’ petition following an application from the state.”

In 2015, an Icon Transport bus was petrol-bombed on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Chauddagram during a BNP mass protest. Eight passengers died after the bus caught fire.

Chauddagram Police Station SI Nuruzzaman Howladar accused a total of 32 local leaders from 20-parties alliance in a murder case and an Explosives Act case over the incident. Khaleda was accused of inciting violence.

Cumilla District and Sessions Judge Shamsul Alam had rejected Khaleda’s bail in the case on Sep 13. Later BNP lawyer filed a bail petition with the High Court.