The High Court (HC) on Thursday rejected a petition filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for quashing proceedings of Barapukuria coalmine corruption case against her. An HC bench comprising Justice Md Nuruzzaman Noni and Justice Md Abdur Rob passed the order. The bench also vacated the stay order issued by the HC on the case proceedings. ACC lawyer M Khurshed Alam Khan told reporters that as the HC has now rejected the petition there is no legal bar to continuation of the trial proceedings of the graft case against Khaleda. On Tuesday, the same bench of the HC fixed today (Thursday) for delivering the judgment. Earlier on August 30, the bench concluded the hearing on the petition filed by Khaleda. On February 26, 2008, the ACC filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station, accusing Khaleda and 10 of her former cabinet colleagues of taking Tk159 crore in kickbacks on the Barapukuria coalmine deal awarded to the highest bidder, instead of the lowest one. Responding to a petition filed by Khaleda, the HC on October 16, 2008, stayed the case proceedings and issued a rule asking the ACC to explain why the case should not be quashed. The Appellate Division later upheld the stay order as well, leaving the corruption case in the cold. Khaleda, however, managed to secure a permanent bail in the case on January 15, 2012. Following a petition of the Anti Corruption Commission, the HC revived the case on March 2. On August 23, the HC turned down two petitions filed by Khaleda seeking all records of and the final report on Barapukuria coalmine graft case from the authorities concerned. — Dhaka, Sept 17 (UNB)
