DHAKA: A Dhaka court fixed October 25 for hearing of charge-sheet of the Barapukuria Coalmine graft case filed against BNP Chief Khaleda Zia and 9 others.

Judge AHM Ruhul Imran of the Special Judge's Court of Dhaka set up in Bakshibazar area of Dhaka city passed the order after hearing on Sunday (September 23).

Lawyers of two accused of the case- Altaf Hossain Choudhury, and Md Aminul Haque-sought time informing the court that the stayed the case with the High Court.

A total of 13 persons have been accused in the charge-sheet of the case. However, Jamaat leader Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed were executed for their crimes against humanity. Former agriculture minister MK Anwar, who is also an accused, died.

The other accused are BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, former acting secretary to the energy and mineral resources ministry Nazrul Islam, former Petrobangla Director Mainul Ahsan, Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, and Hosaf Group Chairman Moazzem Hossain, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, M Shamsul Islam, Altaf Hossain Choudhury, Md Aminul Haque, and AKM Mosharraf Hossain.

On February 26, 2008, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) assistant director Md Shamsul Alom filed the case with Shahbag Police Station.

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

BDST: 1437 HRS, SEP 23, 2018

AH