DHAKA, June 11, 2019 (BSS) – A High Court (HC) vacation bench today ordered
to send BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s petition challenging government
order of transferring cases against her to a makeshift court raised in front
of Keraniganj Central Jail, to a regular bench for hearing.
A High Court division vacation bench comprising Justice Farah Mahbub and
Justice Md. Khairul Alam passed the order today. The High Court is scheduled
to start its normal operation from June 16, after the end of ongoing
vacation.
Government recently transferred 15 cases including Niko and Gatco graft
cases filed against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and others to the
makeshift court.
A Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry gazette notification was
issued on May 12, saying the cases were transferred to the temporary court at
newly constructed building-2 in front of Keraniganj Central Jail over
security reasons.
The 15 cases are: Niko graft case, Gatco graft case, Boropukuria graft
case, eight cases of sabotage lodged with Darus Salam Police Station, a case
lodged with Jatrabari Police Station over torching a bus, and three
defamation cases.
Khaleda’s lawyers on May 26 filed the petition, challenging the court
transfer order of the government.
The BNP chief is now undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib
Medical University (BSMMU) under jail custody. She was in jail after getting
convicted in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8, 2018. She was
later sentenced to seven-year in jail in Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
Meanwhile, acting attorney general Md Murad Reza after today’s court order,
said, Khaleda’s counsel filed the plea only for time killing.