A Dhaka court yesterday (Monday) deferred the hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and 10 others in the Barapukuria Coalmine graft case to March 29.
The judge of the makeshift court, set up at the new Central Jail of Keraniganj, AHM Ruhul Imran fixed the new date on Monday as Khaleda Zia was not produced in the court due to her illness. She has been undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital since April 1. So, she was not produced in court.
The court adjourned the charge hearing and fixed the new date.
A total of 13 persons were accused in the case. However, the death sentences of Jamaat leaders Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed were executed for their crimes against humanity. Former agriculture minister MK Anwar and M Shamsul Islam died. Later, another accused Barrister Aminul Haque also died.
Nine other accused persons are- BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, former acting secretary to the energy and mineral resources ministry Nazrul Islam, former Petrobangla Director Mainul Ahsan, Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Hosaf Group Chairman Moazzem Hossain, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Altaf Hossain Choudhury and AKM Mosharraf Hossain.
On February 26, 2008, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Assistant Director Md Shamsul Alam filed the case against 16 people with Shahbag Police Station of the city.
