Cumilla case: Khaleda’s bail upheld

Staff Correspondent: The Appellate Division has upheld a High Court order that granted bail to BNP Chairperson Kheleda Zia in a Cumilla case.

A bench of Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order on Monday.

Earlier, the High Court granted bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the case filed under the Explosive Substances Act over the arson attack in Cumilla on January 25, 2015.

On October 15, Khaleda’s lawyer filed a bail petition with the High Court after the Special Judge Court-1 of Cumilla denied the former prime minister bail on September 13 in the case.

On October 24, the HC accepted Khaleda's appeal for hearing and issued a rule seeking explanation as to why she would not get bail.

On 25 January 2015, a covered van was set on fire at Haiderpool of Chouddagram municipality on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

The following day, sub-inspector Nuruzzaman of Chouddagram Police Station filed a case against the BNP chairperson and 31 other leaders and activists of the party over the incident.

Khaleda landed in the old central jail on February 8 after a special court sentenced her to five years' rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The High Court on October 30 enhanced the punishment of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to 10 years imprisonment in the case.

Besides, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was also convicted in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case and sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment by a special court on October 29.


risingbd/Dhaka/Dec 17, 2018/Mahadi/Mukul