Charge framing against Khaleda in graft case deferred

The court has fixed November 27 as the date for hearing the charges against 10 accused including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Barapukuria coal mine graft case.

Judge Md Abu Taher of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-3 passed the order on Wednesday (November 20).

The charge framing against 10 accused including Khaleda was scheduled to be held on Wednesday. Khaleda's lawyer appeared on her behalf at the court. On the day, Khaleda Zia and Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain's lawyers argued in the hearing seeking acquittal. As the hearing did not end on this day, November 27 was set as a new date for hearing the charges.

Khaleda's lawyers Zia Uddin and Hannan Bhuiya confirmed the matter.

There were 13 accused in the Barapukuria coal mine corruption case. Among them, Jamaat leaders Matiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were hanged in cases of crimes against humanity. Another accused barrister Aminul Haque died on April 21, 2019.



Currently, in addition to Khaleda Zia, the other nine defendants in this case are former Minister of Commerce Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, former Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain, former Agriculture Minister MK Anwar, former Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, Md Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Hosaf Group Chairman Moazzem Hossain, former Energy and Mineral Resources Secretary Nazrul Islam, former Petrobangla Director Moinul Ahsan and former Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Resources AKM Mosharraf Hossain.

On February 26, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Barapukuria coal mine corruption case against Khaleda Zia and her cabinet members. The case was filed with Shahbag police station by the then assistant director of the ACC Md Samshul Alam. On October 5 of the same year, ACC Deputy Director Md Abul Kasem Fakir submitted the charge sheet.

The charge sheet mentioned that the government has incurred a loss of about Tk 158.71 crore due to the production, management and maintenance contract of Barapukuria coal mine with CMC, the second highest bidder for coal extraction. Barapukuria coal mine caused financial loss to the state.