The High Court will announce its decision on the appeal filed by lawyers for jailed BNP Chief Khaleda Zia against the lower court verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on Tuesday.
Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman fixed the date at the end of arguments on Monday.
On Feb 8, Special Judge-5 Dr Akhtaruzzaman sentenced the former prime minister to five years in prison for embezzling funds donated to the Zia Orphanage Trust.
The Judge also jailed Khaleda's absconding son, acting BNP chairperson Tarique Rahman, and four others to 10 years.
Khaleda’s lawyers have petitioned for her acquittal in the appeal, while the Anti-Corruption Commission has called for her sentence to be extended from the current five-year tariff to a life term in prison.
Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 passed the order as the defence repeatedly refrained from taking part in the hearing.
On Monday, the court also delivered a seven-year jail term to Khaleda following her conviction in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
The other convicts in the Zia Orphanage Trust case are Kazi Salimul Haque, an ex-BNP lawmaker from Magura; Sharfuddin Ahmed, a businessman; Mominur Rahman, a cousin of Tarique; and Kamal Uddin Siddique, former principal secretary.
Khaleda’s counsels challenged the verdict in the High Court a few days after the court’s judgment.
On October 6, she was taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment.
