SC upholds Khaleda's bail in defamation cases

The Supreme Court (SC) upheld on Monday six-month bail granted to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia by the High Court (HC) in two defamation cases filed against her in Narail and Dhaka, reports UNB.
The two cases were filed for her 'derogatory remarks' about freedom fighters and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
A three-member Appellate Division (AD) bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order rejecting petitions filed seeking stay on the bail orders.
Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali stood for Khaleda while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam for the state.
The HC granted a six-month bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in defamation cases filed against her in Narail and Dhaka on August 13 and 14 respectively.
On December 21, 2015, Khaleda Zia at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh here raised a question about the actual number of Liberation War martyrs saying, "There're controversies over how many were martyred in the Liberation War. There're many books and documents on the controversies."
Reacting to Khaleda's remarks, Raihan Farooque Imam of Naragati in Narail filed the case with the Cognisance Court on December 24, 2015.
On January 5, 2016, AB Siddiqui, president of Jananetri Parishad, filed the case with Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld on Monday the High Court (HC) order granting anticipatory bail to BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in two cases.
The cases were filed for allegedly 'instigating' the student movement over road safety and 'conspiring' against the state.
A three-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order after rejecting the two separate petitions filed by the state.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed stood for the BNP leader while Attorney General Mahabubey Alam represented the state.
Earlier on September 27, the HC granted anticipatory bail to Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in the two cases.