Court Report: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been acquitted from the corruption case related to the Barapukuria coal mine scandal.
In addition to Khaleda Zia, BNP’s Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury have also been exonerated from the case.
Meanwhile, former acting Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Nazrul Islam, and three others have been charged in the case.
The verdict was issued by Judge Abu Taher of the Special Judge Court-3 in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The other three accused in the case include former Petrobangla Director Moinul Ahsan, the local agent of the company awarded the Barapukuria coal mine contract, Moyazzem Hossain, Chairman of Hossaf Group, and the former Managing Director of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company, Mohammad Sirajul Islam.
Among the accused, Sirajul Islam is still a fugitive. The other accused appeared in court today.
The case was filed in 2008 at Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka, alleging irregularities in the appointment of contractors for coal extraction, management, and maintenance at the Barapukuria coal mine.
The allegations included embezzlement and damage to state property amounting to BDT 158.71 crore. The ACC filed charges against 16 individuals in October of the same year.