Khaleda's appeal hearing in the Zia Orphanage case adjourned till Jan 14

On Thursday, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) adjourned its hearing on an appeal filed by BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, challenging a High Court order that extended her five-year jail term to 10 in Zia Orphanage Trust case till January 14.

The apex court full bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order allowing a time plea of the counsel of one appellant Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal.

On Thursday, on the third consecutive day of the hearing, it was found that a summary of the appeal filed by Kamal was yet to be filed. The defence later pleaded for time to file the summary of the appeal.

Senior lawyers Zainul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Badruddoza Badal, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Kaiser Kamal, and Adv 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 Adv Md Asif Hasan argued for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

On November 11, 2024, the apex court allowed two leave to appeal petitions filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, staying the High Court order that extended her five-year jail term to 10 in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

"We have argued that the prosecution was not able to show any documents that Begum Khaleda Zia approved any note, or signed any cheques,” Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon told newsmen on that day.

“They could not show any signature of Begum Khaleda Zia on any government documents. Even the fund, we are talking about, is in the bank intact," he added.

"This infamous case was filed with a political scheme. The lower court concerned in February 2018, gave the judgment illegally,” Barrister Kayser Kamal said earlier.

He added: “The High Court after that, being politically biased, gave a judgment illegally, enhancing Begum Khaleda Zia's five-year jail term to 10 years after holding a one-sided hearing,"

"Even the ACC counsel after reading out the FIR said a single penny wasn't embezzled from the fund of Tk2.33 crore. The whole fund is in the bank," he further said.

Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 on February 8, 2018, convicted former prime minister and BNP chairperson 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.