Bangladesh Supreme Court assigns a high court bench to hear opposition BNP chief Khaleda’s petition

M.A Qader-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Bangladesh

Dhaka, 11 May (Asiantribune.com): Bangladesh Supreme Court Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin assigned a bench comprising two judges to hear the petition after a High Court bench failed to hear Khaleda Zia's petition over her cantonment house Sunday.

The new bench consists of Justice M Anwarul Haq and Justice Farah Mahbub is expected to fix a date to hear the petition that challenged the legality of the government decision to cancel the allotment of the former prime minister's house.

Earlier on May 3, two division benches of the High Court did not to hear the same petition.

Meanwhile the second notice sent on 07 May by the cantonment authority, Khaleda was asked to show cause as to why she should not be asked to return the estate, including the house, within the next 15 days.

Military lands and cantonments directorate served the first notice to Khaleda on April 20 asking her to vacate her cantonment house within 15 days. Tuesday was the deadline to leave the house but Khaleda is not obligated to do so as her appeal is pending in the court.

The cabinet on April 8 cancelled the lease on the house on grounds that the leasing process had been faulty and she violated lease terms.

Three days later Khaleda responded with a legal notice of her own on the government, asking it to withdraw the notice by Tuesday. The legal notice sent by Khaleda's lawyers said that then the President had allotted Khaleda the house on a yearly rent basis after the assassination of army chief-turned-president Ziaur Rahman on May 30, 1981.

The house was registered on July 13, 1981 and Khaleda along with her family members had been residing at this house for over 27 years, said the notice.

Therefore, it was illegal in the eye of law to be asked to vacate the house by serving a notice, it said.

The notice also said that Khaleda would take further legal steps unless the government notice was withdrawn.

-Asian Tribune