HC final hearing on PM's prayers today

3 April 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The High Court (HC) is set today to resume the final hearing on the petitions filed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for quashing the proceedings of four corruption cases against her. Both the Appellate and HC divisions of the Supreme Court reopen today after a week-long vacation. An HC bench of Justice Md Shamsul Huda and Justice Abu Bakar Siddiquee on March 25 adjourned the hearing on the petitions filed by the PM and fixed April 4 for further hearing. The cases were filed against Hasina on charges of corruption in setting up of barge-mounted power plant and Meghnaghat power plant, in the appointment of consultants at Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and in procurement of frigates. The barge-mounted power plant graft case was filed by Anti-Corruption Commission during the previous caretaker government, and three other cases were filed by the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption during the rule of the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government. Upon petitions filed by Hasina, the HC earlier stayed the proceedings against Hasina in the cases and issued rules upon the government, BAC and ACC to explain why the proceedings of the cases should not be quashed.