Security Beefed Up at Supreme Court Ahead of Khaleda's Bail Hearing

The authorities have ramped up security measures at the premises of the Supreme Court ahead of the hearing of bail request by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the corruption case of Zia Charitable Trust, in which she faces seven years in prison.

The bail petition is scheduled to be heard this morning by a division bench comprising Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice AKM Zahirul Huq.

The High Court's cause-list for today shows the bail petition by BNP chief as number 1 item to be heard.

Police presence at the court door was enhanced with law enforcers searching anyone accessing the court premises for identity cards.

Earlier on Tuesday, Khaleda's counsel, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, submitted the petition to the court that fixed for the hearing on February 23.

The same day, Khaleda Zia filed the bail petition with the High Court through her lawyer.

In the appeal, Khaleda's lawyers argued that on safety grounds she would be granted bail. Khaleda is not getting proper care at the University of Medicine Bangabandhu Sheik Mujib (BSMMU) and she needs to go to London for better treatment, the lawyer said.

The Supreme Court's Appellate Division, on 12 December last year, rejected Khaleda Zia's bail plea in the same situation.

On 8 August 2011, the ACC lodged the Zia Charitable Trust lawsuit against four individuals with Tejgaon police, including Khaleda Zia, for allegedly collecting and misappropriating trust funds.

On 29 October 2018, a special court in Dhaka sentenced the BNP president and three others in the corruption case for seven years.

After February 8, 2018, Khaleda Zia has served a prison sentence after a decision by the lower court in Zia orphanage trust corruption case sentenced her to five years in prison. The High Court later upgraded her jail term in the case to 10 years.