The High Court today granted permanent bail to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim delivered the verdict after holding final hearing on a petition filed by Khaleda in 2008 seeking bail in the graft case.

Read more: SC disposes of appeal with observations

In that year, the HC had granted her anticipatory bail and issued a rule asking the government to explain why the BNP chief should not be granted regular bail in the case.

Later on, the HC extended her bail.

Also READ: Khaleda leaves for UK

Khaleda, accused in 37 cases, is now on bail in all the cases, Advocate Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan, a lawyer to the BNP chief.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on July 3, 2008 accusing Khaleda, her elder son Tarique Rahman and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.

Of the six accused, Khaleda, former BNP lawmaker Salimul Haq Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed are on bail while the others including Tarique have been absconding.