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Sheikh Hasina to stand trial
The former Bangladesh prime minister will stand trial on charges of receiving kickbacks in the purchase of Russian-built Mig-29 combat aircraft.
Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina will stand trial on charges of receiving kickbacks in the purchase of Russian-built Mig-29 combat aircraft when she was in office in February 1999.
The appellate division of the Supreme Court on Sunday ordered that the trial be resumed after a gap of six years.
A seven-member full court headed by Chief Justice M Ruhul Amin refused to extend the time period of the status quo over the proceedings, reported the Daily Star.
Hasina, who was prime minister in 1996-2001, has been in jail since July 16 on a number of counts, including extortion.
This case relates to the purchase of eight Russian aircraft for the Bangladesh Air Force in February 1999. Hasina has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the purchase for which due processes were followed.
Her counsel Shafique Ahmed said, "We will file a petition before the appellate division seeking stay of the proceedings if the trial court restarts it."
He would also file a regular petition with the appellate division seeking permission to appeal against the high court verdict.
Earlier, on Sep 10, the appellate division ordered status quo till September 30 over a high court verdict that rejected Hasina's petition for quashing the MiG-29 graft case against her.
Besides Hasina, charges were also pressed against former army chief Mostafizur Rahman, former air force chief Jamaluddin Ahmed, former defence secretary Syed Yousuf Hossain, former air force officer Mirza Akhter Maruf, former joint secretary to the defence ministry Mohammad Hossain Serniabat and businessman Noor Ali.
