Court Correspondent :
The Special Judge’s Court-2 of Dhaka yesterday fixed March 22 for the hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and six others in the Barapukuria coalmine graft case.
Judge (in charge) Md Nazrul Islam of the special court passed the order after a petition was filed with the court on behalf of Khaleda Zia, seeking adjournment of the charge hearing, Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder, one of the lawyers of the BNP Chairperson told media people on Monday. Masud Talukder said in his petition that Khaleda Zia, who is now out of the prison after an executive order of the government, is unwell and cannot leave her residence due to Covid-19 pandemic. So, the hearing needs to be adjourned on Monday.
During today’s hearing, two other accused including BNP leader Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, now on bail, were present in the courtroom while three others, including Mozammel Hossain, were not in the court. 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 ten of her former cabinet colleagues of taking Tk 159 crore in kickbacks on the Barapukuria coalmine deal which was awarded to the highest bidder. The ACC pressed charges against Khaleda Zia and 15 others in the graft case on October 5, 2008.
Seven accused including former ministers M Saifur Rahman and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan died during the trial, while Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid and Motiur Rahman Nizami were executed on charges of committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of 1971. So, the eight were dropped from the list of the accused.
