Dhaka: The stay order on the trial proceedings of a sedition case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her remarks about the number of martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War will remain in force.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Syed Mahmud Hossain dropped a petition filed by the state from the cause list on Sunday following an appeal filed by deputy attorney general Masud Hasan Chowdhury Parag.

Masud said, "We want to file a leave-to-appeal petition with the court against the High Court order and it will be done after getting the HC verdict copy."

Earlier, on March 29, the High Court stayed for six months the proceedings of the sedition case filed against the BNP chief for her remarks about the number of martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.

The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the taking of cognizance of charges at trial court against her should not be declared illegal and cancelled. The writ is returnable in four weeks.

On January 10, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia filed the petition with the High Court seeking cancellation of a lower court order taking cognisance of charges in a sedition case filed against her.

On December 21, 2015, Khaleda Zia at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh raised questions about the number of Liberation War martyrs. "There're controversies over how many were martyred in the Liberation War. There're also many books and documents on the controversies," she had said.

Khaleda's remarks triggered widespread criticism.

Supreme Court lawyer Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi, also the former member of Awami League central committee, sent a legal notice to the BNP chairperson on December 23 of the year.

As the BNP chief did not reply to the legal notice, Momtaz filed an appeal with the Home Ministry seeking its permission to file a sedition case against Khaleda.

On January 21, 2016, the ministry permitted Momtaz to file the sedition case and subsequently the lawyer filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka on January 25.

The court took cognisance of the complaint on the same day and summoned Khaleda to appear before the court. However, Khaleda secured bail in the case later.

On August 10 last, the trial court took cognisance of a charge-sheet in the case.