Judge Malik Abdullah Al Amin of the Special Court for Dhaka Division recorded statements of the witnesses and fixed today for next hearing of the case.

Defence lawyers also completed cross-examination of the witnesses in Ershad's presence. Earlier, complainant of the case Golam Mortuza, an official of the now defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption had given his deposition before the same court.

Though the charges were framed on July 7, 1992, the trial of the case was stayed for a long time due to a High Court order.

Ershad and former chairman of Bangladesh Shilpa Bank (BSB) AKM Mosharaf Hossain directed the authorities concerned to waive Tk 35 lakh loan taken by M/S Three Star Poultry Farm Limited on September 4, 1979.

Later, a graft case was filed with Motijheel Police Station against Ershad, Mosharraf, BSB Managing Director Jahangir Kabir, Directors Firoz Kabir and Borhan Uddin and Jahangir's wife Nurunnahar Shelly.

Of them, Jahangir and his wife Shelly are still at large while others are now on bail.

The investigation officer pressed charges against Ershad and five others on November 6, 1991.