Court Correspondent :
A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned the hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and six others in Barapukuria coal mine graft case till June 13.
The defense has so far sought 38 dates for adjournment of the hearing on various grounds, according to the prosecution.
Judge ASM Ruhul Imran of the Special Judge’s Court-2 of Dhaka passed the order after a petition was filed with the court on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia, seeking an adjournment of the charge framing hearing, Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder, one of her lawyers, told The New Nation.
Masud Talukder said Begum Khaleda Zia, who is now out of jail following an executive order of the government, is unwell and her appearance at the court was earlier exempted. In her absence, Masud represented her in the court on Tuesday.
The lawyer also said he was yet to scrutinize some documents seized by the Investigation Officer during the investigation as those were produced in the court, Masud Talukder added.
During Tuesday’s hearing, three BNP leaders- Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Dr Khondaker Mosharraf Hossain, now on bail, remained absent from the court while two others, including Mozammel Hossain, were present.
Earlier Defense for Altaf, Amir Khasru and Mosharraf submitted separate petitions on behalf of their clients.
Another accused Md Sirajul Islam has been absconding since the case was filed against him.
On February 26, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station, accusing 16 people including Khaleda Zia and 10 of her former cabinet colleagues of taking Tk 159 crore in kickbacks on the Barapukuria coalmine deal awarded to the highest bidder.
Of the 16, six have already died and their names are expected to be dropped from the case while framing the charges.
