HC verdict on Khaleda’s plea March 10

The High Court will deliver its verdict on March 10 on a petition for quashing the proceedings of Barapukuria coalmine corruption case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case in February 2008 accusing Khaleda and others of causing a loss of Tk 159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for operating the coalmine to a Chinese company by abusing power.

Following a petition by Khaleda, the HC in October the same year stayed the proceedings and issued a rule upon the government and ACC to explain as to why the case should not be quashed.

After concluding hearing on the rule, the HC bench of Justice Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan today set March 10 for delivering the judgment.

During the hearing, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told the HC that the trial court will decide after hearing statements from witnesses and examining evidence and documents whether the allegation brought against Khaleda in the case is true.

He prayed to the HC to reject the petition filed by Khaleda.

No lawyer appeared before the court for placing arguments for the petitioner, Khaleda, Advocate Khurshid told The Daily Star.