Khaleda's lawyers take back her bail petition

The lawyers of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday took back her bail petition filed with the High Court in Zia Charitable Trust case in which she was sentenced to seven years by a special court of Dhaka.

The High Court bench of Justice Farid Ahmed and Justice ASM Abdul Mobin refused to pass any order upon the petition and advised to the lawyers of Khaleda Zia to submit it to the Appellate Division.

Addressing the lawyers, senior judge of the bench said, "You can place this petition in the Appellate Division as a senior High Court bench earlier rejected her bail petition in the case considering gravity of the offence mentioned in the case."

In response advocate Zainul Abedin who took part in the hearing for Khaleda Zia said, "Though the matter has been heard in another bench of the High Court before, there is no bar to hold hearing by you."

However, the court refused to hear the petition and then Khaleda Zia's lawyer said, "We want to take back the bail petition."

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan were present in the court for hearing on behalf of the state and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) respectively.

Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan said, "The High Court was not satisfied to hear a case which was rejected on merit by another High Court bench earlier. They can go to the Appellate Division against the rejection order of a High Court bench."