DHAKA: The High Court asked the authorities concerned to submit by September 27 all documents on opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s leasehold Dhaka cantonment residence which has come under eviction notice served by the present government.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Najmun Ara Sultana and Justice Sheikh Hasan Arif Monday issued the order during hearing on a petition of the BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, challenging the government move.
The court also adjourned the hearing on her petition until then (September 27).
Barrister Moudud Ahmed MP and TH Khan moved for Khaleda Zia while Attorney-General Mahbube Alam for the state.
On April 8, 2009, the government cancelled the allotment of Khaleda Zia`s house on Shaheed Mainul Road in Dhaka Cantonment, citing a number of “anomalies” in the allotment.
In response to Khaleda’s writ petition, the HC on May 27 last year had stayed for three months the proceedings of the government notice and issued a rule upon the government to explain why the notice ‘should not be declared illegal’.
Later, the High Court on July 10 further extended by three months its stay order on the government notice directing the ex-PM to vacate her cantonment residence.
With the latest extension of the hold, the effect of the notice has been stayed five times—thereby holding back the present government’s move to evict her from the house leased to the Zia family after the assassination of former president general Ziaur Rahman.
BDST: 1814 HRS, AUGUST 23, 2010.