ZCZC
BSS-16
HEARING-INDICTMENT-BARAPUKURIA
Indictment hearing in Barapukuria graft case on Jan 15
DHAKA, Nov 12, 2019 (BSS) – A court here today set January 15 to hold
hearing on charge framing in Barapukuria coalmine graft case against BNP
Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and others.
Today was fixed for holding hearing on the matter, but Judge AHM Ruhul
Imran of Dhaka Special Judge Court-2 had to reset the date as the jail
authorities could not produce prime accused Begum Khaleda Zia before the
temporary court raised in newly constructed building in front of Keraniganj
Central Jail.
Khaleda is now undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University (BSMMU) Hospital.
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 accused, six are already dead 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/MHR/FI/ 1458 hrs