28 March 2024

Hearing on Khaleda’s trial inside Keraniganj jail at HC regular bench

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. File photo -

The High Court today sent to the regular bench a petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the government’s move to hold trial in 17 cases against her inside the Keraniganj Central Jail, UNB reports.

The HC vacation bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order.

The regular HC benches will sit from June 16 after the vacation ends.

Senior lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali and Barrister Moudud Ahmed argued for the BNP chief while Additional Attorney General Murad Reza represented the state and Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission.

After the court order, Moudud said they were supposed to submit gazettes on shifting the court to the Keraniganj jail before the court but they could not as they are yet to get those. “There’s should be a detailed hearing. But this bench has no time as the vacation ends today (Tuesday).”

On May 28, Barrister Kayser Kamal filed the writ petition on behalf of the former prime minister.

The Law Ministry on May 13 issued separate gazette notifications about setting up a makeshift court inside Keraniganj jail and holding trial in 17 cases against Khaleda there.

The newly-constructed building-2 of the central jail was declared the makeshift court as per the sub-section 2 of section 9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Khaleda, a former prime minister, has been in jail since February last year after she was convicted of corruption. Her party claims that the cases against her are politically motivated and accuses the government of plotting to keep her out of national politics – a charge the government denies.


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