Arson, vandalism cases against Khaleda stayed

The High Court today stayed the trial proceedings against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in two cases filed over arson and vandalism in 2015.

The court also issued two separate rules asking the government to explain in four weeks why the lower court order that accepted the charges against Khaleda in the cases should not be scrapped.

The HC bench of Justice Miftah Uddin Chowdhury and Justice ANM Bashir Ullah passed the order and issued the rules after hearing two petitions filed by Khaleda challenging the legality of the lower court order that took cognizance of the charges against her.

Deputy Attorney General Shaikh AKM Moniruzzaman Kabir told The Daily Star that the government will appeal to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for staying the HC order.

The police filed the arson and vandalism cases against Khaleda and others with Darus Salam Police Station in Dhaka on January 29 and February 4 in 2015 during the anti-government agitation enforced by the BNP-led alliance, he said.

A Dhaka court in January this year took cognizance of the charges of the cases, the deputy attorney general added.