Khaleda gets permanent bail in defamation case

The High Court (HC) granted permanent bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a defamation case filed for making derogatory remarks about the number of Liberation War martyrs and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The HC bench, led by Justice Abu Zafar Siddiqui, issued the order on Thursday (March 12) after hearing a bail petition filed by Khaleda’s lawyers.

Lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali and Barrister Kaiser Kamal stood for the BNP chief.

On August 13, 2018, the HC granted a six-month bail to Khaleda in the defamation case and also issued the rule asking the government to explain why she could not be granted permanent bail.

Later on, the HC several times extended ad interim bail in this case.

The court today passed the order granting her permanent bail after hearing the writ petition.

Raihan Farooque Imam filed the case in Narail for making derogatory remarks on freedom fighters on December 24, 2015.

Khaleda, now in jail, was convicted in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case in February 8, 2018. She was found guilty in another corruption case later.

Dhaka/Mahidi/AI