Top court decides on Zia’s plea today

The Supreme Court (SC) will pass its decision today on two separate pleas filed against a High Court order granting bail to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.“Tomorrow - for order,” said a four-member division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain after a full bench hearing on the petitions moved by attorney general Mahbubey Alam and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) counsel Khurshid Alam Khan.While opposing the High Court order, the ACC counsel said all the other accused in the case were sentenced to 10-year imprisonment, while Zia was handed down five-year imprisonment considering her age and social status.“So there is no need to consider her age and social status again for granting her bail,” he said.The attorney general too referred to different cases while opposing Zia’s bail in the case. He also pleaded to reset the time given by the High Court to prepare the papers of the case.The Supreme Court on March 14 stayed the High Court order that granted bail to BNP chairperson in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.A four-member division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Hossain passed the order following two pleas filed by the ACC and the state.“Adjourned till March 18 and stay,” the apex court said, asking the ACC and state to file regular appeal pleas by that day.