The High Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging proceedings in Barapukuria coal mine corruption case against her.
The bench of Justice Md Nuruzzaman and Justice Abdur Rob pronounced the verdict that paved way continuing the case in a special judge’s court.
The court observed that the petition was not filed in proper manner and the case have elements of intention of graft in activities of the coal mine.
Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said the verdict would pave way continuing trial of the case in special judge’s court and Khaleda’s lawyer Ragib Rouf said they would appeal against the high court verdict.
On February 26, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case accusing Khaleda and 15 others of causing a loss of Tk 159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for operating Barapukuria coal mine to a Chinese company abusing her power as the prime minister.
In October 2008, after a preliminary hearing in Khaleda’s petition, the High Court stayed the proceedings in the case asking the government and the commission to explain the legality of the proceedings.
On August 23, the same bench rejected Khaleda’s plea for calling for lower court records in the case. It also rejected the plea for calling for final report filed to the commission in June 2008 by the investigator relieving Khaleda and others of the graft charges before the submission of the charge sheet in the case on October 5, 2008.
The bench of Justice Md Nuruzzaman and Justice Abdur Rob pronounced the verdict that paved way continuing the case in a special judge’s court.
The court observed that the petition was not filed in proper manner and the case have elements of intention of graft in activities of the coal mine.
Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said the verdict would pave way continuing trial of the case in special judge’s court and Khaleda’s lawyer Ragib Rouf said they would appeal against the high court verdict.
On February 26, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case accusing Khaleda and 15 others of causing a loss of Tk 159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for operating Barapukuria coal mine to a Chinese company abusing her power as the prime minister.
In October 2008, after a preliminary hearing in Khaleda’s petition, the High Court stayed the proceedings in the case asking the government and the commission to explain the legality of the proceedings.
On August 23, the same bench rejected Khaleda’s plea for calling for lower court records in the case. It also rejected the plea for calling for final report filed to the commission in June 2008 by the investigator relieving Khaleda and others of the graft charges before the submission of the charge sheet in the case on October 5, 2008.
Source: New Age
