Khaleda seeks cancellation of govt’s decision to set up court in Keraniganj Jail

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday sent a legal notice to the government seeking cancellation of its decision to set up a makeshift court in Keraniganj Central Jail to hold the trial of cases filed against her.

On behalf of Khaleda, Kayser Kamal, one of her counsel, sent the legal notice to the Law Secretary by post, through email and Fax.

Talking to UNB, Kayser said the Law Ministry issued a gazette notification recently about shifting the special court to Keraniganj Jail from the Old Dhaka Central Jail to hold the trial of different cases filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

“We the lawyers and our client (Khaleda) think the gazette notification is illegal as it is contrary to the Constitution,” he said.

As per Article 35 of the Constitution, the BNP chief’s lawyers said the trial must be held in public, and there is no scope to set up a court inside the jail.

He said they gave the government 24-hour time to withdraw the Law Ministry’s notification. “Otherwise, we’ll take legal action in this regard.”

Khaleda was sent to Old Dhaka Central Jail after she had been convicted in Zia Orphanage Trust Graft case on February 8, 2018. She has been receiving treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for various health complications since April 1 last.

Earlier in the day, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said they will soon move the Supreme Court challenging the government's decision of setting up the makeshift court in Keraniganj Central Jail.

Speaking at a human-chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, he also said, "We think, setting up such a court is contrary to the constitution. The constitutional right of a citizen to have justice will be violated with it.”