The Supreme Court yesterday set July 13 for the hearing of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s petitions which question High Court rulings, clearing a way for her trial in two graft cases.
Chamber Judge Justice Hasan Foez Siddique fixed the date, sending the two stay petitions to the full bench of the Appellate Division for hearing.
Anti-Corruption Commission Counsel Khurshid Alam Khan said there was no legal bar to starting the trial of Khaleda as the top court did not stay the High Court rulings.
However, defence counsel Md Asaduzzaman said because a date had been fixed for the hearing of the pleas by the apex court, the lower court could not start a trial of the former premier.
On June 19, trial court Judge Basudev Roy, who indicted her in the cases, scheduled the recording of testimonies against Khaleda for today, after the High Court rejected petitions disputing the appointment of the judge.
On Monday, Khaleda filed petitions with the Appellate Division seeking a stay over her trial and the High Court rulings.
