HC resumes Khaleda hearing in Zia Orphanage case

The High Court has resumed a hearing on an appeal filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging a lower court verdict that jailed her for five years in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. 

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md. Mostafizur Rahman started the hearing at around 11:00am on Thursday. 

Khaleda's lawyer Abdur Rezak Khan presented a paper book while AJ Mohammad Ali, Moudud Ahmed, Zainul Abedin and Mahbub Uddin Khokan were present in court on behalf of Khaleda.

Deputy Attorney General Farhad Ahmed and ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan were also present in the court.  

High Court granted a four-month interim bail to the BNP chief Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on March 12. 

Earlier on May 16, the SC upheld the High Court order that had granted bail to convicted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the graft case.

The SC also issued an order to dispose of Khaleda's appeal challenging the lower court's verdict in the case by July 31.

Later, Khaleda's lawyer filed a petition on June 25 seeking review of the order.

On February 8, the Dhaka Special Court-5 convicted the former Prime Minister and BNP chairperson and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

She was then sent to old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in the capital.