Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia secured bail from a special court set up at the playground of Government Alia Madrasah in Dhaka’s Bakshibazar in two graft cases over Zia Charitable and Zia Orphanage Trust.

A day after returning home from the UK, Khaleda Zia surrendered before Dhaka 5 Special Judge Akhteruzzaman’s court on Thursday morning for seeking bail in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case as it issued a warrant for her arrest.

The BNP chief started her journey from her residence for the court at about 10:30am and reached in court premises at about 11:15am, said her media wing member Shamsuddin Didar.

Barrister Jamir Uddin Sarker filed the bail petition before the court on behalf of BNP chairperson. He sought bail for Khaleda Zia on the basis of medical ground. On the other, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol opposed the bail petition. After conducting hearing of two sides, court granted bail for the former prime minister.

Khaleda Zia’s counsel Sanaullah Mia said the court asked Khaleda Zia to seek for its permission before leaving the country in future.

Earlier on Wednesday, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said their chairperson returned home showing respect to the court as some warrants for her arrest were issued in different cases.

He said Khaleda Zia will surrender before the court and seek bail in the cases in which the arrest warrants were issued against her.

Khaleda Zia returned home from the UK on Wednesday afternoon after over a three-month stay there. She reached Hazrat Shahjajal International Airport by an Emirates Airlines flight at about 5:08pm.

Earlier on October 12, Dhaka Special Court-5 issued the warrant for the arrest of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case as she went to London without its permission.

On July 3, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman, and four others for misappropriating over Tk 21.0 million (2.10 crore) that came as grants from a foreign bank for orphans.