Khaleda seeks bail in Zia Charitable Trust graft case

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday filed a petition with the High Court seeking bail in Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.

In the petition, the three times former prime minister said she has been suffering from different diseases and already served one and half years in jail in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. Therefore, Khaleda said, she deserves a bail.

The HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice SM Kuddus Zaman fixed July 30 for the hearing on the bail petition.

Khaleda’s Lawyers-Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Advocate Zainul Abedin, Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Barrister Kayser Kamal were present before the court.

On October 29, 2018, a Dhaka court convicted and sentenced Khaleda to seven years’ imprisonment in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

The BNP chairperson has been admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University since April 1 for different illness.

THE CASES AGAINST KHALEDA ZIA -

ZIA ORPHANAGE TRUST GRAFT CASE

A special court sentenced Khaleda Zia to five years imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case in February 2018 and the High Court doubled the jail term around nine months later. 

ZIA CHARITABLE TRUST GRAFT CASE

She was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the same court in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case in October 2018.

GATCO GRAFT CASE

The trial of the Gatco corruption case is pending with the Special Judge's Court-3 of Dhaka. 

The court fixed August 22 for the hearing on charge framing. 

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case in 2007 against Khaleda and 13 others for corruption while awarding a contract to Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Company Ltd (Gatco) for container management at inland depots in Dhaka and Chittagong. 

NIKO GRAFT CASE

The trial of the Niko graft case is pending with the Special Judge's Court-9 of Dhaka. 

A hearing on charge framing is set for August 4. 

The ACC filed the case in 2007 accusing Khaleda and several others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko when she was the prime minister between 2001 and 2006.

BARAPUKURIA COALMINE GRAFT CASE

Special Judge's Court-2 of Dhaka is set to hold a hearing on charge framing on September 5 in the Barapukuria coalmine corruption case.

The graft watchdog filed the case in 2008 against 16 people including Khaleda and 10 of her former cabinet colleagues of taking Tk 159 crore in kickbacks on the Barapukuria coalmine deal awarded to the highest bidder instead of the lowest one.

NINE ARSON CASES IN DARUSSALAM  

Nine arson cases were filed with Darusssalam Police Station during the non-stop blockade by the BNP-led 20-party alliance in 2015 for damaging and torching vehicles and assaulting policemen and preventing them from discharging their duties at Balurmat in Gabtoli and Mazar Road areas.

The cases are now pending with the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court. 

The High Court granted Khaleda Zia bail in all nine cases and stayed the proceedings against her

THREE ARSON CASES IN JATRABARI  

Three other arson cases were filed with Jatrabari Police Station against Khaleda and others for killing and injuring people by hurling petrol bombs at a bus during the non-stop blockade in January 2015.

Charge sheets have been pressed and the cases are pending with the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court. 

Meanwhile, the HC stayed the proceedings in the cases.

SEDITION CASE

Supreme Court lawyer Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehehi on January 25, 2016 filed a sedition case against Khaleda for her remarks on the number of Liberation War martyrs.

The case is pending with the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court. 

Khaleda Zia is on bail in the case, which has been stayed by the HC.

BOMB ATTACK ON SHIPPING MINISTER

Metropolitan Magistrate Debdas Chandra Odhikari fixed August 26 for filing the investigation report in a case filed in 2015 accusing Khaleda and 13 other BNP leaders and activists of carrying out a crude bomb attack on a procession led by Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan.

Khaleda Zia is on bail in the case.

ARSON CASE IN KHULNA

A sub-inspector of Fultala Police Station in Khulna filed the case against 54 identified people including Khaleda for torching a vehicle in February 2015. 

The case is now under investigation and the BNP chief is on bail.

TWO ARSON CASES IN COMILLA  

The cases were filed with Chouddagram Police Station in Cumilla against Khaleda and several top BNP leaders in connection with arsons on February 3, 2015 during the non-stop movement. 

Police pressed charges in the cases pending with Cumilla Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court.

Arrest warrants were earlier issued against Khaleda and several others. She received bail for six months from the lower court but the HC stayed the bail upon an appeal.

CASE FOR CELEBRATING ‘FAKE' BIRTHDAY

In August 2016, Gazi Zahirul Islam, former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists, filed the case against Khaleda Zia for allegedly celebrating a fake birthday on August 15 every year.

An arrest warrant against her is pending.

CASE FOR 'UNDERMINING NATIONAL FLAG'

AB Siddique, president of pro-government Jananetri Parishad, filed the case with a Dhaka court in November 2016 accusing Khaleda and her late husband and former president Ziaur Rahman of undermining the country's map and national flag.

An arrest warrant against Khaleda is pending.  

LOAN DEFAULT CASE

A case, filed against the BNP chief on charge of defaulting on a loan amounting to Tk 45.49 crore, is pending with Dhaka Artha Rin Adalat-1 (money loan court).

The trial of the case - popularly known as Dandy Dyeing case - is now underway.

NINE MORE CASES

Nine other cases have also been filed against Khaleda on charges of killing 42 people during the non-stop blockade in 2015 and also of making derogatory remarks about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the AL government and the Liberation War on different dates in 2015 and 2016.

Six cases were filed with courts in Dhaka, while the rest outside the capital.

The cases are under investigation.