Verdict on Khaleda's challenge tomorrow

The High Court yesterday fixed tomorrow for delivering verdict on a petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the legality of the trial proceedings of Barapukuria coalmine corruption case against her.

After holding hearing on arguments, the court on August 30 said it will deliver verdict on the petition any day.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case on February 26, 2008 accusing Khaleda and 15 others of causing a loss of Tk 159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for operation of Barapukuria coalmine to a Chinese company through abuse of power.

Responding to the petition filed by Khaleda in 2008, the HC stayed the trial proceedings and granted her bail, and also issued a rule upon the ACC and the government to explain why the proceedings against Khaleda should not scrapped.

Earlier, the HC rejected some petitions of Khaleda clearing the way for lower courts concerned to continue trial proceedings against her in Gatco, Niko, Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said yesterday.