Dhaka-BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and 10 other accused have been asked to appear before the court on July 24 in the Barapukuria coal mine graft case.Special Judge-9 of Dhaka Aminul Islam passed the order on Sunday in response to the plea of the accused for more time.
Former Acting Secretary of Energy Ministry Nazrul Islam and Petro Bangla’s former Director Mainul Ahsan were present in the court and sought additional time while nine other accused including Khaleda Zia sought time through their lawyers.
Advocate Salaullah Miah appeared to the court on behalf of the accused white Advocate Mosharraf Hossain Kajol represented the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).
The ACC (ACC) filed the case on February 26, 2008 accusing Khaleda Zia and 15 others for causing a loss of Tk 159 crore to the national exchequer, awarding a contract of operating Barapukuria coalmine to a Chinese company, abusing power.
In response to the petition filed by Khaleda Zia in 2008, the HC stayed the trial proceedings and granted her bail in the case. The HC had also issued a rule upon the ACC and the government to explain as to why the proceedings against Khaleda Zia should not scrapped.
The name of four other accused of the case have been dropped as two of them died and other two accused were hanged for their involvement in crime against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. -Court Correspondent
