Barapukuria graft case against Khaleda Zia, hearing Jul 13

Khaleda Zia now

A Dhaka court today adjourned the indictment hearing in Barapukuria coal mine graft case against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and others for the last time till July 13.

Judge Md Akhtaruzzamn of the Special Judge Court-2 of Dhaka passed the order considering a time petition filed by Khaleda Zia’s lawyer.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Md Abul Kashem Fokir on February 26, 2008 filed the graft case against Khaleda Zia and 15 others with Shahbagh Police Station on the charge of causing a loss of about Tk 159 crore to the national exchequer by inking a contract for the operation of Barapukuria coal mine with a Chinese company abusing power.

Of the sixteen accused convicted war criminals Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed were hanged for their role during the War of Liberation of country. Six dead accused were- M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiya, M Shamsul Islam, Barrister Aminul Haque, AKM Mosharraf Hossain and MK Anwar.

Seven other accused people are- Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury. Nazrul Islam, SR Osmani, Moinul Ahsan, Md Sirajul Islam and Moazzem Hossain.

Besides, Begum Khaleda Zia is out of the prison following and executive order of the government. - Special Correspondent