SCBA says

Camera trial to punish Khaleda Zia illegal

Camera trial to punish Khaleda Zia illegal

Dhaka, Sep 6 (Just News): The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Advocate Zainul Abedin today said the government has set up a makeshift court in the Old Dhaka central jail in order to hold a camera trial to punish BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia illegally.

The court has been set up in the old central jail so that people cannot see or understand the illegal activities of the government in the name of trial, Zainul Abedin said.

The SCBA president demanded of the government to withdraw the gazette notification issued on September 4 saying that the trial of Zia Orphanage Trust case against Khaleda Zia will be held at the administrative building of the old central jail.

Advocate Zainul placed the demand at a press conference organised by the SCBA at its auditorium.

Advocate Zainul said according to the article 35 (3) of the constitution and Section 352 of the code of criminal procedure, a court will be set up at such a place where people can enter.

The makeshift court which was set up in old central jail is contradictory to the constitution and the CrPC.

There is a possibility of suffocation if people stay at the ccourt for some time, Zainul said adding that it is like what is seen in the cinema.

The SCBA president said that there is no legal scope to hold the trial against Khaleda in the "illegal" court.

The SCBA Secretary AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon was also present on the occasion.

Khaleda Zia yesterday expressed a lack of confidence in the special court trying the Zia Charitable Trust graft case against her after she was produced before it inside the old Dhaka central jail.

“There is no justice here. Punish me as much as you want, punish me for as long as you want,” Khaleda Zia told the makeshift court inside the jail where she has been serving time in another graft case for around seven months.

Earlier in February, the same court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage case.

On Tuesday, the law ministry issued a gazette notification, saying the proceedings in the Zia Charitable Trust case would be held at the old central jail on Nazimuddin Road.

The 73-year-old BNP chief landed in jail on February 8, following her conviction and sentence in the Zia Orphanage case.

 

(Justnews/ys/2110hr)