Trial of Ershad resumes after one year

After a year of adjournment on different excuses, the prosecution yesterday again started placing argument in the Radar purchase graft case against Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad and three others.

A Dhaka Court fixed July 13 for the next hearing of the case after hearing arguments of Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Abdus Salam from the first information report (FIR) of the case.   

Earlier on June 11, 2014, Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Abdur Rashid refused to hear the argument and transferred the case to the yesterday's court for its disposal.

During the hearing, Ershad was not present in the court as his lawyer represented him while two others-- former air chiefs Sultan Mahmud and Mamtazuddin Ahmed – were in the dock. Another AKM Musa, director of United Traders Ltd, has been absconding.

The now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption filed the case against the then military dictator Ershad and four others on May 4, 1992. The court framed charges against Ershad, Sultan, Mamtazuddin and Musa on August 12, 1995.

According to the case statement, Ershad in collusion with others had allegedly caused a loss of Tk 64.04 crore to the state exchequer by purchasing radars from the US instead of France for the air force while he was in power.