Dhaka: High Court on Thursday adjourned till 12 March the hearing on an appeal seeking the transfer of the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases to another court showing non-confidence to judicial court and postponement of the arrest warrant issued against Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice Rejaul Haque and Justice Khashruzzaman issued the order after conducting the primary hearing on Thursday.

Barrister AJ Mohammad Ali and Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokhon were present at the court on behalf of Khaleda Zia while attorney general Mahbube Alam was the prosecution lawyer.

Mahbube Alam said Khaleda Zia cannot appeal for the postponement of the arrest warrant as she is a fugitive accused.

On 25 February, court issued warrant for the arrest of Khaleda Zia and two other accused in the two graft cases, revoking her bail.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Special Judge’s Court-3 on the Bakshibazar Alia Madrasah playground had also fixed 4 March (Wednesday) for the next hearing on the case.

Asked whether the BNP chairperson will go to court, her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan said she will act in this regard as per the advice of her lawyers.

A source close to Khaleda Zia said the BNP chief woke up around 8:30am and she was waiting for the advice of her lawyers whether she will appear before the court or not.

The Bakshibazar special court on Wednesday began hearing of the two petitions filed by Khaleda Zia seeking the withdrawal of the warrants issued for her arrest in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust Fund graft cases.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Special Judge’s Court-3 on the Bakshibazar Alia Madrasah playground passed the order on Tuesday after the petitions were filed by Khaleda’s lawyer Sanaullah Miah.

On Tuesday, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, the principal counsel for the BNP chairperson, said his client is ready to surrender to the trial court subject to ensuring adequate security, bail and safe return to her Gulshan office.

‘We’re respectful to law... although we’re yet to get any copy of the arrest warrant, BNP chairperson is willing to appear at the court if she is ensured adequate security, bail and safe return to her Gulshan political office,’ Khandker Mahbub told reporters at the Supreme Court Bar Association building.

Revoking her bail, Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Special Judge’s Court-3 set up on the Bakshibazar Alia Madrasah playground issued warrant for the arrest of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and two other accused for not appearing before it to face trial in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust Fund graft cases.

Though there was strong speculation that Khaleda may be arrested if she does not appear before the court, no extra security measures was in sight around Khaleda’s office, where she has been staying since 3 January.