Dhaka, 9 July, Abnews: The Supreme Court on Monday fixed Thursday for passing an order on two petitions filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking review of its earlier order that asked the High Court to hear and dispose of her appeal in Zia Orphanage Trust Corruption case by July 31.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain fixed the date.
Advocates A J Mohammad Ali, Joynal Abedin and Khandaker Mahbub Hossain stood for Khaleda Zia while attorney general Mahbubey Alam for the state and Advocate Khurshid Alam for the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Earlier on July 3, the High Court fixed July 8 for hearing on the appeal petition filed by Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust case.
On March 19, the Appellate Division stayed Khaleda's bail until May 8 in the graft case in which she was convicted by the lower court.
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