A Dhaka court today (May 29) set July 13 for the hearing on charge framing in the Barapukuria coalmine graft case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and six others.
Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Judge's Court-2 of Dhaka passed the order after a petition was filed with the court on behalf of Khaleda, seeking an adjournment of the hearing.
As Khaleda's personal appearance was exempted, Zaynal Abedin Meshbah represented her in court.
During the hearing, three other accused, now on bail, were present at the court while two others were absent while another accused Md Sirajul Islam remains absconding since the case was filed against him.
On February 26, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the graft case against Khaleda Zia and 15 others with Shahbagh police station.
They were accused of causing a loss of Tk 159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for operation of Barapukuria Coalmine to a Chinese company through abuse of power.
Of the 16 accused, six have already died and their names are expected to be dropped from the case during framing of the charges.
Khaleda is in jail since February 8, 2018, the day she was convicted in a graft case. She was shifted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital on April 1, 2019.
On Mar 25 last year, following the outbreak of coronavirus in the country, the government suspended Khaleda’s jail term by executive order and released Khaleda for six months on the conditions that she would receive treatment at home and not travel abroad.
BDST: 1504 HRS, MAY 29, 2023
MN/SMS
