ZCZC
BSS-10
HEARING-GRAFT-BARAPUKURIA
Indictment hearing in Barapukuria graft case May 16
DHAKA, May 2, 2019 (BSS) – A Dhaka court set May 16 to hold hearing on
charge framing in Barapukuria Coalmine graft case against BNP chairperson
Begum Khaleda and others.
Today was fixed for holding hearing on the matter, but Dhaka Special
Judge Court-2 deferred the hearing as the prime accused is undergoing
treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and jail authorities
couldn’t produce her before the court.
The ACC on February 26, 2008, filed the graft case against Khaleda Zia
and 15 others with Shahbagh Police Station. They were accused of causing a
loss of Taka 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, six have already died and their names are expected to be
dropped from the case while framing of the charges.
The High Court on February 25, 2019, ordered the lower court concerned
to dispose of the case within six months.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder
and Justice KM Hafizul Alam passed the order, binning a plea filed by one of
the accused and BNP leader Barrister Aminul Haque to quash the charges.
BSS/CORR/JUB/MHR/IJ/1525 hrs