In December 2001, the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption (Bac) filed the case against Hasina and the three accusing them of misappropriating about Tk 18 crore from the Meghnaghat Power Plant when she was in power.

The High Court stayed the proceedings of the case pending with the trial court in December 2002, accepting a petition for quashing the case.

The court order came yesterday following an application moved by the counsel for Hasina seeking de-listing of the case from the order of the day, apprehending that they might not get justice if the hearing took place in the court, court sources said.

When the court resumed, Deputy Attorney General Helaluddin Mollah prayed for fixing the date of hearing of the long-pending case.

Opposing the government move, the counsel for Hasina, mentioning a recent-past reference, prayed for de-listing the case on grounds that her client "might not get justice in the court".

After hearing both sides, a division bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice M Emdadul Huq passed the order.