Coalmine graft: Khaleda’s appeal dismissed, case to continue

The Supreme Court dismissed a leave to appeal petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging a High Court verdict that cleared the way for running the trial proceedings of Barapukuria coalmine graft case.

A four-member bench of Appellate Division of the SC led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order on Sunday.

Following the SC order, there is no legal bar on the lower court to run the trial proceedings of Barapukuria coalmine graft case against Khaleda Zia, said Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khurshed Alam.

After concluding hearing on May 22, the appellate division set today for passing the order on Khaleda’s plea.

The trail proceedings of the case are being run at the Dhaka’s special Judge Court-9.

On September 17, 2016, a High Court bench comprised of justices Muhammad Nuruzzaman and Abur Rab rejected Khalead’s plea challenging the legality of the trial proceedings of the case against her.

ACC filed the case against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 15 others in 2008.