Dhaka, 27 Mar, Abnews: The High Court has fixed Wednesday for hearing on acceptance of an appeal filed by Anti-Corruption Commission seeking extension of punishment for BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
An HC bench of justice M Enayetur Rahim and justice Md Shahidul Karim fixed the date after the appeal was placed before it, reports UNB.
The ACC filed the appeal petition on Sunday.
On 19 March, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court stayed the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s bail, granted by the High Court, till 8 May in the graft case.
The SC also allowed the state and the ACC to file petitions against the HC order that granted bail to Khaleda, fixing 8 May for next hearing.
On 12 March, the High Court granted a four-month interim bail to Khaleda Zia.
On Feb 8, a Dhaka court sentenced BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to five years of rigorous imprisonment and fines her Tk 2 crore for financial irregularities in the Zia Orphanage Trust.
After Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, Khaleda is the second head of the government convicted in a graft case.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, now living in the UK, and four others of misappropriating over 2.10 crore that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.
Four other accused are former BNP MP Salimul Haq Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique and Mominur Rahman, nephew of late President Ziaur Rahman.Kamal Uddin Siddique and Mominur Rahman have long been absconding.
ABN/Adrian/Jasim/AD