DHAKA: A Dhaka court fixed August 12 for hearing the charges in Barapukuria Coalmine graft case against 11 accused including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.  

Acting Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-2 passed the order, after granting a plea of deferring the hearing filed by the accused. 

However, 13 persons are accused in the case as par the charge-sheet. 

Of them, Jamaat leader Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed were executed for their crimes against humanity. And former agriculture minister MK Anwar died.

On September 17 in 2015, an HC bench of Justice M Nuruzzaman and Justice Abdur Rob rejected a writ plea from Khaleda Zia that challenged the legality of the case. 

A copy of the full verdict was also published May 25, 2016, in this connection.

Later, Khaleda filed a leave to appeal against the verdict on June 26, 2016.

On February, 2008, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case accusing Khaleda Zia and 16 others including 10 cabinet members of the then BNP-led government, over corruption in Barapukuria Coal Mine.

The case reported loss of about Tk158 crore from the state while handing the production and management in the coal mine.

BDST: 1526 HRS, JUL 15, 2018
SI