The High Court on Monday extended BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s bail in two defamation cases filed in Dhaka and Narail districts. The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Aminul Islam passed the order after hearing a petition. The bail was extended until the disposition of the two cases. Barrister Kaisar Kamal stood for Khaleda Zia. On December 21, 2015, Khaleda Zia at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh raised questions about the actual number of Liberation War martyrs saying, "There're controversies over how many were martyred in the Liberation War. There're also many books and documents on the controversies." Reacting to Khaleda's remarks, Raihan Farooque Imam of Naragati in Narail, filed a case with the Cognisance Court on December 24, 2015. On January 5, 2016, Jananetri Parishad President AB Siddiqui filed another case with Dhaka Metropolitan Chief Magistrate Court. The High Court on August 13 and 14, 2018 granted six-month bail to Khaleda in the two cases. Later, the state counsel filed a petition seeking stay on the High Court order and the Appellate Division also upheld the HC order. Then the bail was extended several times in the two cases.  

The High Court on Thursday has granted permanent bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in two defamation cases. From now on, the BNP chief will remain on bail until the end of the cases’ procedures. The bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Shahed Nuruddin passed the bail order by disposal of the rule in two cases. Also read: Khaleda shifted to cabin from CCU Khaleda’s counsel Kaisar Kamal stood for her while Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi represented the state. AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad, a pro-Awami League organisation, filed the cases against Khaleda Zia accusing her of hurting the religious sentiment of the Muslims and for making derogatory comments on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on October 21, 2014, and on January 25, 2017, respectively.  Also read: Khaleda must follow legal process for treatment abroad, says Home Minister

The High Court (HC) on Tuesday extended BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s bail by one year in two defamation cases.