The high court in Bangladesh’s capital on Thursday rejected an appeal by former prime minister Khaleda Zia to halt proceedings of a major corruption case against her in a trial court that involves a coal mine project.
The case was filed in 2008 by the country’s the then military-backed government against Khaleda and 15 others. According to charges, Khaleda and other accused had allegedly caused 1.59 billion takas of loss to the state by giving the Barapukuria coalmine contract to Chinese company, National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC).
State lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told reporters after the decision that the corruption case filed in 2008 by the Anti-corruption Commission will proceed in a trial court wihtout any disrution but defence said they would appeal as “there was no specific allegation” against Khaleda.
“We will move to appeal against the decision,” Raghib Rouf Chowdhury, a lawyer for Khaleda, told reporters.
A two-member panel of Justice Mohammed Nuruzzman and Justice Abdur Rob made the decision amid a reality that corruption cases against any big political figures usually got strangled when government changes.
Khaleda’s counsels have the option to challenge the High Court decision in the Appeallate Division of the Supreme Court.
{{/usCountry}}Khaleda’s counsels have the option to challenge the High Court decision in the Appeallate Division of the Supreme Court.
{{/usCountry}}The case remained shelved after Khaleda moved for its halt but the Anti-corruption Commission went to the court earlier this year to resume its proceedings.