Even if the apex court grants BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia bail on Sunday, she will not be freed until she gets bail in another case from a Comilla court, Law Minister Anisul Huq has said.
The top court is scheduled to hear four petitions – two filed by Khaleda and the others by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the state – on Sunday. The former prime minister will be granted bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case if the Appellate Division accepts her petitions.
Meanwhile, a Comilla court has ordered her to appear before it on March 28 for the bail hearing in a sabotage case.
“Even if the top court grants her bail tomorrow, she will not be released following legal procedures. According to the law, she has to secure bail from the Comilla court,” Anisul told the media in Dhaka on Saturday.
After the appeal division put a hold on Khaleda Zia’s bail, her lawyers claimed that the action was a reflection of the governments wish.
When asked about the allegation, Anisul said: “A High Court bench has granted her bail. If the government truly interfered with the case, then she would not have gotten bail. We never interfere with the work of the judiciary.”
BNP Chairperson Khaleda has been in jail since February 8 after being convicted in the orphanage trust corruption case. She was later granted bail by the High Court but the state and the ACC filed two petitions challenging the order.
Appellate Division Chamber Judge Justice Hasan Foez Siddique sent the two petitions to the full bench for hearing without passing any orders.
The top court stayed the High Court order and asked both parties to file leave-to-appeal.
Khaleda will have to appear before the Comilla court on March 28. It is being assumed that Khaleda will be sent to Comilla if she does not get bail before the date of the hearing.This article was first published on banglatribune.com
Thursday, March 20, 2025
