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Bangladesh SC upholds bail for Khaleda Zia
Dhaka, May 16 (IANS) The Bangladesh Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld bail for opposition leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in a corruption case in which she is currently serving a five-year sentence.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order, dismissing the appeals filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the government challenging the High Court’s bail to Khaleda, bdnews24.com reported.
However, the Supreme Court order will not pave the way for 72-year-old Khaleda to walk out of prison as her lawyers said she was being held behind bars in some other cases also.
BNP’s Legal Affairs Secretary Kayser Kamal said that Khaleda is facing 36 cases and has been summoned to appear on June 7 in the Comilla court regarding two cases.
Zia, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was found guilty on February 8 of embezzling $252,000 in foreign donations for the Zia Orphanage Trust and was sentenced to prison.
She was later granted four months bail by the High Court on March 12. However, the apex court stayed the bail order following two petitions filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the government.
In the politically significant Zia Orphanage Trust graft case ahead of the next parliamentary elections slated for early 2019, the court also awarded 10 years’ jail to five others including Zia’s son Tarique Rahman, now acting chairman of BNP and living in London, with a fine of $250,000.
On Khaleda’s freedom from jail, BNP lawyer Moudud Ahmed said that the BNP chief had been made accused in a number of cases pending in the trial court.
“We have to try to seek bail in other cases as early as possible. As the Appellate Division upheld the High Court order, it would be easy to get the bail in other cases.”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the main motive of the graft case was to “malign” Khaleda and bar her from the upcoming elections.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League (AL) party earlier said the Khaleda Zia graft case verdict was totally a matter of the court and the party had nothing to do with it.
–IANS
and-soni/bg
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.