FT ONLINE

A Dhaka special court has extended BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s bail in Zia Charitable Trust graft case till April 5.

Judge Md Akhteruzzaman of Special Judge Court 5 passed the order on Wednesday.

The court also fixed the same day for holding the next hearing on the corruption case.

ACC lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol said: “The BNP chief was scheduled to appear before the court in person, but could not do so because of health complications.”

On August 8, 2011, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case with Tejgaon police station accusing four people, including Khaleda Zia, of abusing power in raising funds for the trust from unknown sources.

On February 8, Dhaka Special Court 5 convicted the former prime minister and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.