
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday set Wednesday to pronounce its judgment on an appeal filed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, challenging a High Court order that extended her five-year jail term to 10 in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
The order passed by the Appellate Division bench, headed by chief justice Syed Refaat Ahmed. The apex court gave the order after holding a hearing on the appeal in the case.
Senior lawyers Zainul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Badruddoza Badal, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Kaiser Kamal, and Gazi Qamrul Islam Sazal took part in the hearing for the former prime minister.
Attorney general Md Asaduzzaman, additional attorney generals Mohammad Arshadur Rouf and Aneek Rushd Haque stood for the state, while Md Asif Hasan argued for the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The apex court on November 11, 2024, allowed two leave to appeal petitions filed by Khaleda Zia, staying the High Court order.
Khaleda Zia’s counsels in their arguments stated that the prosecution could not able to show any documents that she approved any note, or signed any cheque, they could not show any signature of Khaleda Zia on any government document.Â
Dhaka special judge court-5 on February 8, 2018, convicted Khaleda Zia and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the case. It also sentenced five others, including her son and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to 10 years’ imprisonment each.
The High Court on October 30, 2018, extended the BNP chief’s jail term to 10 years.