Barapukuria graft case against Khaleda: Charge framing hearing on July 13

A Dhaka court today set July 13 for hearing on charge framing in the Barapukuria coalmine graft case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and six others.

Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Special Judge's Court-2 of Dhaka passed the order after a petition was filed with the court on behalf of Khaleda, seeking an adjournment of the hearing, Zaynal Abedin Meshbah, one of her lawyers, told The Daily Star.

In the petition, Meshbah said Khaleda, who is now out of jail after an executive order of the government, is unwell and she was taking treatment at her Gulshan residence. So, the hearing should be adjourned, he said.

Khaleda's personal appearance was exempted earlier and Meshbah represented her in court.

During the hearing, three other accused, now on bail, were present at the court while two others, including BNP leader Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, were absent.

Another accused Md Sirajul Islam remains absconding since the case was filed against him.

On February 26, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station, accusing 16 people, including Khaleda and 10 of her former cabinet colleagues, of taking Tk 159 crore in kickbacks on the Barapukuria coalmine deal awarded to the highest bidder.

ACC pressed charges against Khaleda and 15 others in the case on October 5, 2008.

Seven accused including former ministers M Saifur Rahman and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan died during the trial, while Jamaat leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid and Motiur Rahman Nizami were executed on charges of committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

So, the nine were dropped from the trial.