The High Court has issued a rule asking why former education minister Dipu Moni should not be granted bail in five cases filed against her.

A High Court bench comprising Justice Md Khairul Alam and Justice Md Rafizul Islam issued the order on Monday, her lawyer Gazi Foysal Islam told bdnews24.com.

The government has been made a respondent and asked to reply to the rule within four weeks.

The lawyer said the rule covers three murder cases filed with Gacha Police in Gazipur on Oct 5, 2024, Adabor Police on Aug 4, and Shahbagh Police on Oct 25.

The other two are a case filed with Shahbagh Police on Mar 23 and a Badda Police case under Sections 326 and 307 of the Penal Code filed on Nov 16.

Senior lawyer Ramzan Ali Sikder argued for Dipu Moni in court alongside Foysal, while Deputy Attorney General Md Masudul Alam Doha represented the state.

Foysal said his client faces around 70 cases on charges, including murder, crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July Uprising, corruption and violence.

Dipu Moni has so far been shown arrested in 38 of those cases in court.

Several cases have also been filed against her in Chandpur, outside Dhaka, the lawyer added.

He noted that the former minister had secured bail in three cases, of which two have since been stayed, leaving bail intact in only one.