HC stays trial proceedings of 2 arson cases against Khaleda

The High Court on Sunday stayed the trial proceedings of two separate arson cases filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. In separate rulings, an HC bench of Justice Miftah Uddin Chowdhury and Justice ANM Bashir Ullah also asked the government to explain as to why the case proceedings should not be scrapped. Government lawyers will now move to the Appellate Division seeking a stay on the High Court order. On April 5, Khaleda filed petitions seeking stay on the proceedings, challenging a lower court order that accepted charges. The lower court concerned is scheduled to hold hearing on the charge framing on April 10. The two arson cases were filed against her along with other leaders and activists of the BNP with Darussalam police station on February 10 and 20 respectively in 2015 and police submitted the charge sheet in May last year.