Dhaka, Feb 26 – The Special Judge’s Court-2 of Dhaka on Tuesday issued a production warrant (PW) against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to appear before the court on March 13 in the Barapukuria coalmine graft case.
Judge ASM Ruhul Imran issued the order after hearing an appeal of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday.
Of the accused, Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed were executed for war crimes while former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, BNP leader Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and former Petrobangla Chairman AR Osmani are dead.
The ACC pressed charges against the accused on October 5, 2008. Responding to a petition filed by Khaleda Zia, the High Court on October 16 of that year stayed the case proceedings and issued a rule asking the ACC to explain as to why the case should not be quashed.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court later upheld the stay order as well, as leaving the corruption in the cold.
Later on September 17, 2015, the High Court lifted the stay order resuming the trial proceedings of the case.
On February 26, 2008, ACC filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station accusing 16 persons, including Khaleda Zia and 10 of her former cabinet colleagues. They were accused of taking Tk 159.71 crore in kickbacks on the Barapukuria coalmine deal which was awarded to the highest bidder instead of the lowest bidder. – Special Correspondent
