The Special Judge Court-2 of Dhaka yesterday fixed November 17 for hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and seven others in the Barapukuria coal-mine corruption case.
Judge AHM Ruhul Imran of the special court passed the order on Thursday as Khaleda Zia is ill at her residence.
The BNP Chief’s lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder sought time. The judge granted the time petition and deferred the hearing
for two months. The judge of the makeshift court, set up at the Central Jail of Keraniganj, fixed the new date yesterday.
On February 26, 2008, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station of the city accusing 16 people, including BNP Chief Begum Khaleda Zia and 10 of her former cabinet members, of taking Tk 159 crore as kickbacks on the Barapukuria coalmine deal, which was awarded to the highest bidder.
Earlier on October 5, 2008, the ACC pressed charges against Khaleda Zia and 15 others in the Barapukuria coal-mine graft case.
Seven people, including former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, were dropped from the charge sheet after their death.
Besides Khaleda Zia, other seven accused people are former acting secretary of the energy and mineral resources ministry Nazrul Islam, former Petrobangla Director Mainul Ahsan, Hosaf Group Chairman Moazzam Hossain, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and AKM Mosharraf Hossan.
