The High Court (HC) on Wednesday directed former Home Minister and BNP leader Altaf Hossain Choudhury to surrender in the trial court in Barapukuria coal mine case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
According to the order, Altaf has to surrender in four weeks after the lower court receives the HC directive.
The High Court bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the order after rejecting a petition filed by
Altaf Hossain seeking cancellation in the trial proceedings in the case.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khurshed Alam Khan told the journalists that the High Court in 2008 stayed the trial proceedings in the case against Altaf following his petition.
The court also issued a rule asking the ACC and the government to explain as to why the proceedings against the BNP leader should not be scrapped.
On Wednesday, the High Court vacated the stay order and discharged the rule, the ACC lawyer said.
He added if Altaf surrenders in the trial court within the stipulated time, his bail in the case will be continued. But the law will take its own course if he does not surrender, he said.
The ACC on February 26, 2008 filed a case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 15 others including Altaf for grafting in awarding Barapukuria coal mine operation contract to a Chinese company.
