DHAKA: The Supreme Court upheld the High Court order that stayed for 40 days the government decision canceling the parole of Arafat Rahman Coco, younger son of BNP chairperson and ex-PM Khaleda Zia.

Chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice ABM Khairul Haque passed the order in response to a government petition against the High Court order and set October 3 for the next hearing on the petition in a full bench of the apex court.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Advocate Mahbub Uddin Khokon moved for Coco and Attorney-General Mahbubey Alam for the state.

Earlier on August 26, the High Court through its order extended by 40 days the parole of Coco. It also issued a rule upon the government to explain why this decision “should not be declared illegal”.

The HC bench also asked Coco to report to the embassy of Bangladesh in Thailand every three days. In default, his parole will “automatically stand cancelled”.

Coco and his elder Tarique Rahman were set free from jail at the fag-end of the past military-backed interim regime for their treatment abroad.

BDST: 14655 HRS, AUG 31, 2010