Court Correspondent

BNP chief Khaleda Zia remains unsatisfied despite the remission of her prison sentence for corruption by the president. Her legal team sought a High Court hearing to secure her acquittal in the Zia Charitable Trust case.

The High Court has also given her permission to prepare the necessary paper book for the hearing at her own expense.

The order was issued on Sunday by the bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain after a petition from Khaleda's lawyers.

“We requested the court’s approval to prepare the paper book at our expense to expedite the hearing. The court has granted this request,” said Kayser Kamal, one of Khaleda's lawyers.

The former prime minister was jailed for five years on Feb 8, 2018, in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, and her sentence was later extended to 10 years by the High Court in October of the same year.

She was also sentenced to seven years in prison on Oct 29, 2018, in the Zia Charitable Trust case. Although the High Court accepted her appeal in April 2019, no further hearing took place.

Since 2020, she has been on temporary release under an executive order, which had been renewed every six months.

After the fall of the Awami League government during a mass protest, President Md Shahabuddin remitted her sentence on Aug 6 under Article 49 of the Constitution.

A Bangabhaban statement noted that the decision followed discussions between the president and various political leaders, civil society members, and leaders of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

Article 49 grants the president the authority to “grant pardons, reprieves and respites and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority.”

However, under the law, while the president’s clemency can remit a sentence, it does not nullify the conviction. A person convicted by a court remains ineligible to run for elections for five years after their release.

Explaining the reason for pursuing the appeal, Kayser said, “Khaleda Zia wishes to be declared innocent by the court. That is why we have filed for an expedited hearing in the Charitable Trust case.”

Asked if they plan to challenge the High Court’s verdict in the Zia Orphanage Trust case at the Appellate Division, he said, “Yes, we will. The hearing in the Appellate Division for that case is set for Nov 10.”