Top court upholds Khaleda’s bail in Cumilla arson case

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld a six-month bail granted by the High Court to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a case filed over the killing of eight people in a firebomb attack on a bus in Cumilla.

Cumilla Additional District and Session Judge Md Akbar Ali had rejected Khaleda’s bail plea on Feb 4.

Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman granted a six-month bail

to Khaleda on Mar 6, following her appeal to the High Court.

Chamber Judge Justice Md Nuruzzaman stayed the bail order and scheduled a full hearing for Apr 7 after the state appealed the bail order.

A bench of four headed by the chief justice dismissed the state’s appeal on Sunday

following a hearing.

Therefore, the six-month bail issued by the High Court remains effective.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state as Khandaker Mahbub Hossain appeared

on behalf of the BNP chairperson.

On Feb 3, 2015, a bus operated by Icon Paribahan was hit with a petrol bomb during a blockade called by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam. At least eight passengers in the bus had burnt to death and another 27 injured in the attack.

Chauddagram Police Station SI Nuruzzman Howladar filed two separate cases regarding the incident.

Sub-Inspector Md Ibrahim in Chauddagram Police Station submitted the charge sheets against Khaleda in both cases, two years after an investigation.

Khaleda has been in prison since February last year. She has been sentenced to 17 years in prison in the

Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases.