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Hasina's Graft Case

Hearing deferred for sixth time to March 9

Staff Correspondent
The hearing on charge framing against detained former premier and Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina and seven others in the Tk 3 crore barge-mounted power plant graft case has been deferred for the sixth time until r March 9.
Judge Firoz Alam of Special Court-1 yesterday adjourned the hearing following a time petition from the defence counsels on the
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ground that they could not fully examine the necessary documents of the case.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina while meeting relatives and her lawyers after adjournment of the court proceedings criticised Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain for acting as a lawyer for the Election Commission while himself being the chief of a political party.
Hasina wondered how being the chief of a political party that is set to take part in the next elections, Kamal Hossain could oppose chief of another party. Hasina also described the role being played by Dr Kamal defending EC's controversial letter inviting BNP to dialogue on political reform as immoral and devoid of political ethics.
Hasina who has been suffenng from ailments Including eye and hearing problems expressed fear over her deteriorating health. She complained that she was not allowed to meet her personal doctors and junior doctors are offering her treatment
Hasina also complained of not maintaining jail code in allowing her visitors.
On February 26, the court permitted the defence counsels to examine seized case evidence in presence of the law enforcers following a petition from the defence side
On the same day. the court deferred the hearing on charge framing for three working days after rejecting a bail prayer of Hasina. The court adjourned the hearing on the ground that senior defence lawyers failed to appear before the court and were involved in another graft case against Hasina in the Supreme Court
Earlier, the special court deferred the hearing of charge framing five
times for time petitions from the defence and the prosecution, Hasina's illness and not producing DrToufiq-e-Elahi, one of the accused in the case, before the court.
After meeting Hasina. her lawyers told the press that she expressed satisfaction at the decision of sending Awami League (AL) General Secretary Abdul Jald abroad for treatment.
Sabbir Hasan, deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on September 2.
The complainant alleged that Hasina and the six others used their influence to help Wartsila Power Development Ltd Consortium and its local partners -- Summit Group and United Group -- win a deal for setting up 100MW barge-mounted power plants in Haripur, Khulna and Shikalbaha depriving the lowest bidder.
According to the case statement. Hasina. then prime minister, received kickbacks to the tune of Tk 3 crore from the three firms from October 24, 1996 to November 24, 1997 and the money was used for buying a house for Bangabandhu Memorial Trust in the city's Dhanmondi area.
The other accused in the case are former energy secreUry Dr Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, former Power Development Board (PDB) chairman Noor Uddin Mahmud Kamal. Aziz Khan, managing director of Summit Industries and Mercantile Corporation Private Ltd, its director Farid Khan, United Group Chairman Hasan Mahmud Raja and Director Abul Kalam Azad.
The curator of Bangabandhu museum. Sayed Siddiqur Rahman, was indicted in the charge sheet submitted to the court on Janua ry 10