Order on Khaleda\\\'s writs May 25

The High Court (HC) will deliver its order on May 25 (Sunday) on two writ petitions filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the legality of the appointment of a special judge who framed charges against her in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases, reports UNB.

An HC bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo fixed the date after hearing the writs for the second consecutive day Tuesday.

On May 12, Khaleda's counsel Muhammad Asaduzzaman filed the writs on her behalf challenging the legality of the appointment of special Judge Basudev Roy who framed charges in the two graft cases.

The writs also sought a stay order on the further trial proceedings of the two graft cases.

The writs said as per section 3 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1958, a gazette notification has to be issued on the appointment of a judge to a special court.

However, no gazette notification was issued on the appointment of special judge Basudev Roy who framed charges in the two cases, the writs said adding that as such the holding of the trial proceedings by the judge was not lawful.

On March 19, Judge Basudev Roy of the Dhaka's Special Judge Court-3 framed charges against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and seven others rejecting their time petition in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.