ZCZC
BSS-13
HEARING-INDICTMENT-BARAPUKURIA
Indictment hearing in Barapukuria graft case against Khaleda Sept 5
DHAKA, July 18, 2019 (BSS) – A Dhaka court today set September 5 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 the jail
authorities could not produce prime accused Khaleda Zia before the temporary
court raised in newly constructed building in front of Keraniganj Central
Jail as she is undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University (BSMMU) Hospital.
Judge AHM Ruhul Imran of Dhaka Special Judge Court-2 then deferred the
hearing till September 5.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on February 26, 2008, filed the
graft case against Khaleda Zia and 15 others with Shahbagh Police Station in
the capital.
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/FI/ 1508 hrs