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Khaleda's appeal hearing in Zia Orphanage case adjourned until Jan 14

FE Team | Published: January 10, 2025 00:13:47

Khaleda's appeal hearing in Zia Orphanage case adjourned until Jan 14

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday adjourned till January 14 its hearing on an appeal filed by BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, challenging a High Court order that extended her five-year jail term to 10:00 in Zia Orphanage Trust case.
The apex court full bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order allowing a time plea of the counsel of one appellant Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal.
Thursday, on the third consecutive day of the hearing, it was found that summary of the appeal filed by Kamal was yet to be filed. The defence later pleaded for time to file the summary of the appeal, reports BSS.
Senior lawyers Zainul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Badruddoza Badal, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Kaiser Kamal, and Adv Gazi Qamrul Islam Sazal took part in the hearing for the former prime minister.
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, Additional Attorney Generals Mohammad Arshadur Rouf and Aneek Rushd Haque stood for the state, while Adv Md Asif Hasan argued for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The apex court on November 11, 2024, allowed two leave to appeal petitions filed by BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, staying the High Court order that extended her five-year jail term to 10 in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
"We have argued the prosecution was not able to show any documents that Begum Khaleda Zia approved any note, or signed any cheques; they could not show any signature of Begum Khaleda Zia on any government documents. Even the fund, we are talking about, is in the bank intact," Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon told newsmen on that day.
"This infamous case was filed with a political scheme. The lower court concerned in February 2018, gave the judgment illegally.
The High Court after that, being politically biased, gave a judgment illegally, enhancing Begum Khaleda Zia's five-year jail term to 10 years after holding a one-sided hearing," Barrister Kayser Kamal said earlier.

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