Dhaka, 24 June, Abnews: The Appellate Division of Supreme Court on Sunday fixed July 2 to pass the order on a leave-to-appeal against the High Court order that granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a murder case filed over the arson attack in Cumilla on Feb 3, 2015.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain fixed the date after completing hearing of the leave-to-appeal.
Besides, the SC fixed Monday for hearing another leave-to-appeal filed by the state in another case filed against Khaleda under Special Power Act over the same arson attack.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam stood for the state while Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, AJ Mohammad Ali and Joynul Abedin for Khaleda.
On May 28, the High Court granted bail for six months to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in two cases filed in Cumilla.
Later, the government filed a petition with the Appellate Division seeking a stay on the bail order.
Eight people were killed and at least 20 others injured when miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at a bus at Jogmohanpur in Chouddagram of Cumilla district during the BNP-led alliance’s movement on February 3, 2015.
Two cases were filed against Khaleda in this connection.
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