Court Correspondent :
The Special Judge Court-2 of Dhaka yesterday (Thursday) set October 7 for hearing on charge framing in Barapukuria Coalmine graft case against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda and others.
Earlier, Thursday was fixed to hold hearing on the matter, but the jail authorities could not produce prime accused Khaleda Zia in the temporary court prepared in the newly constructed building in front of Keraniganj Central Jail as she is undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Judge AHM Ruhul Imran of the special judge court then deferred the hearing to October 7.
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 national exchequer by awarding a contract for operation of Barapukuria Coalmine to a Chinese company abusing 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.
The High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam had had passed the order, considering a plea filed by one of the accused to quash the charges.
