The High Court yesterday asked Khaleda's lawyers to finish placing arguments by October 8 on points of law in the appeal filed against the trial court's verdict in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after Barrister Bodruddoza Badal moved a prayer seeking extension of her bail.

After the hearing yesterday the bench extended Khaleda's bail till October 8 and fixed 10:30am today for continuing the hearing for the eighteenth day.

The bench also expressed dissatisfaction as Khaleda's lawyers did not appear before it for placing arguments even after they took time from the court, Anti-Corruption Commission's lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star.

The BNP chairperson's lawyer intend to prolong the proceedings by remaining absent during the proceedings, he also said.

Contacted, Khaleda's counsel Barrister Bodruddoza Badal told this correspondent that they are yet to finish placing arguments on the factual points of the appeal, adding they will continue the arguments today.

Arguments on the legal points will be placed once the factual points are concluded, the lawyer also said.

On March 12, HC granted four months' bail to Khaleda in the graft case that sentenced her to five years' rigorous imprisonment.

The four-month bail expired on July 12. Since then, the HC bench extended the bail order six times so far.

Order on writ petition seeking treatment

Meanwhile, another HC bench is set to delivering an order on a writ petition filed by the former prime minister seeking a directive on government to send her to United Hospital for treatment.

The bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil yesterday set the date after concluding the hearing on the petition.

During the hearing, Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali, a lawyer for the BNP chief, said that the medical board formed by government for Khaleda's treatment consists of physicians from Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, a pro-Awami League doctors' forum.

It is unlikely that Khaleda will get fair treatment from this medical board, which is an infringement of her fundamental right, the lawyer argued.

He prayed to the bench to direct the government to send Khaleda to United Hospital as her choice for treatment.

Opposing the writ petition, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said that jail authorities have taken necessary steps for the treatment of the BNP chief.

On September 9, Khaleda filed the writ petition as she had been suffering from various illnesses.

In the petition, she prayed to be admitted to United Hospital, while the medical board formed by the government recommended her to be admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

Cumilla court rejects Khaleda's bail

A Cumilla court yesterday rejected bail to Khaleda in an arson case filed under special power act in Chauddagram upazila on February 2015.

Judge Biplob Debnath rejected her bail after hearing the arguments from the defence and prosecution.

“We were denied justice. Khaleda was not named in the FIR of the case. She was implicated in the case through the charge sheet. We will go to the higher courts for her bail,” Advocate Kaimul Haque Rinku, a lawyer for the BNP chief said.