Barapukuria case
Khaleda asked to appear in court Jul 24
UNB
A Dhaka court yesterday ordered nine accused, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, to appear before it on July 24 in connection with the Barapukuria coalmine corruption case, reports UNB. Judge of the Special Judge Court-2 Hosne Ara Begum passed order.
Eight other accused in the case include BNP leaders Dr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, MK Anwar, M Shamsul Islam, Air Vice Marshall (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, AKM Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister M Aminul Hoque, chairman of Hosaf Group Moazzem Hossain, former Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Secretary Nazrul Islam, former director of Petrobangla Moinul Ahsan and M Sirajul Islam Chowdhury. Meanwhile, Nazrul Islam and Moinul Ahsan were granted fresh bail in the case after they surrendered before the court on Sunday on expiry of the bail period.
On February 26, 2008, the Anti Corruption Commission filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station accusing 16 people, including Khaleda and 10 of her former cabinet colleagues, of taking Tk159 crore in kickbacks on the Barapukuria coalmine deal awarded to the highest bidder instead of the lowest one.
However, among the 16 accused, Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mojaheed were executed for their crimes against humanity while former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, BNP leader Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan former Petrobangla chairman AR Osmani have already died.
Responding to a petition filed by Khaleda, the HC on October 16, 2008 stayed the case proceedings and issued a rule asking the ACC to explain why the case should not be quashed.
