"I have never seen in my 27 years of career in judiciary that the prosecution has failed to produce the accused after fixing the date of trial," Judge M Firoze Alam told the court, pointing at the Public Prosecutor (PP) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

"I did not face such a problem at the Speedy Trial Tribunal for disposing of the cases within the timeframe," the judge said.

The judge's observations came as PP Mahbub Ahmed informed the court, after it resumed at 12:45pm for recording deposition by one pw, about the absence of accused Sabera Aman, a co-accused in the graft case filed against former state minister Amanullah Aman.

Later appearing before the court, court-inspector Enamul Huq referred to the jail authority's report that Sabera was sick and could not appear in the court for standing trial.

The judge interrupted the court inspector, and said the conduct of the jail authorities is very "unfortunate", as the information was transmitted lately.

"Such conduct amounts to vitiating the trial process, because the trial has to be disposed of within the timeframe," a visibly irate judge said and warned legal actions against the prison authorities.

"I will write letter to the home ministry asking them to issue show-cause notice upon the jail super, jailer and the court inspector for such conduct that impedes the trial process," he told the court, especially set up by the caretaker government for trying bigwig corruption suspects.

Sunday was fixed for commencing the trial with the testimony of the prosecution witnesses. The pw and complainant in the graft case, ACC deputy director Abdullah Al Zahid, was present at the court.

Earlier, accused Aman, now in custody, was brought before the court amid tight security.

The court adjourned the hearing until today (Monday).