The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

After one year in detention, the former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is going to be released today from the makeshift special jail in the city, according to the highly placed sources.

"She (Begum Zia) will not be freed today (Wednesday) as we have received the release order after evening. She will be freed tomorrow (Thursday), after completion of scrutinizing the papers," Inspector General (Prisons) Brigadier General Zakir Hasan told reporters yesterday. Earlier, Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin yesterday told reporters that Begum Zia would be released as soon as her bail bonds would reach the authorities from the court.

He made it clear that the Government has not filed any appeal against the High Court bails granted to Begum Zia. "She will be freed as soon the relevant bail bonds reach the jail authorities.

"The government had not challenged the bails of Khaleda Zia in the GATCO and Niko cases," the Adviser said adding, all needed to go through due legal process.

Asked to comment on the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) appeal against Khaleda's bail, the Adviser said the matter is being looked into.

The ACC yesterday filed an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's bail orders. Advocate Sufia Khatun filed the two appeals at the Appellate Division in the morning.

Sufia Khatun told reporters that she filed two appeals against at the directive of the ACC seeking a stay order against the High Court bail orders.

She said the chamber judge of the vacation bench of the Appellate Division is expected to be in session on September 15.

However, the hearing of the two appeals may be held any day if the judges agree," she said.

Meanwhile, the bail bonds for Begum Zia were submitted to four separate courts handling the GATCO, Niko, Zia Orphanage Trust and Barapukuria cases yesterday.

Talking to reporters Khaleda's lawyer Advocate Sanaullah Miah said the bail bonds of the four graft cases against were submitted and accepted by the courts.

He said the courts informed them that all the papers relating to the bail bonds have been sent to the jail authorities.

"We hope Begum Zia will be freed today (Thursday) if there is no other problem," he said.

The detained BNP Chairperson secured bail in the GATCO and Niko corruption cases on Tuesday for three months in each that removed the all legal barriers to her release through legal process.