Dhaka: The appellate division upheld the bail order granted by High Court for Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and BNP chairperson’s advisor Shamsuzzaman Dudu in several cases.

A four-member HC bench led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha issued the order on Thursday.

Other members of the bench are Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana, Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, and Justice Hassan Foyez Sidiqque.

Advocate Joynul Abedin, Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon, and Advocate Sagir Hossain Liyon were present in the court on behalf of BNP leaders while the prosecution lawyer was attorney general Momtaz Uddin Fakir. 

Sagir Hossain said the court stayed the bail for Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in five cases. HC also postponed a case and fixed date for hearing in two cases. However, Dudu got bail in four cases and can be released anytime. 

The court upheld the bail order for Rizvi in five cases filed with Mohammadpur, Paltan, and Badda police and postponed bail for a case with Khilgaon police.

Moreover, court fixed 9 and 10 August for hearing of two cases filed with Paltan police.

Earlier, on 7 July, an HC bench granted interim bail to Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in eight cases and Shamsuddin Dudu in four cases after completing hearing on separate bail petition.

Later, the prosecution appealed for postponing the bail granted for Rizvi and Dudu.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was arrested in several cases in the early hours of 31 January and Shamsuzzaman Dudu was arrested on 12 January.