Ex-Premier Zia avoids arrest in graft cases as Bangladesh court grants bail
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has avoided arrest on corruption charges after the court granted her bail.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadder approved Zia's request for bail when she made court appearance in Dhaka on Sunday.
Zia left her office for the first since Jan. 5, when authorities had initially barred her from leaving to attend an anti-government rally calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her arch rival.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}She has vowed to continue with anti-government protests that have turned violent, leaving nearly 115 people dead.
Zia's lawyers have rejected allegations that she illegally collected more than $1 million in donations for the charity during her last premiership in 2001-2006, and say the charges are politically motivated, which authorities deny.
The trial began early last year.