The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court, apparently out of reluctance, struck off from its cause list the hearings of long-pending petitions for quashing more graft cases, including one on frigate-purchase scam, against detained former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and co-accused persons.

The court order came following a time petition moved by Barrister Shafique Ahmed, counsel for Hasina.

On Thursday, a division bench comprising Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury and Justice M Ataur Rahman Khan discharged the long-pending petitions for quashing Mig-29 purchase- scam case against Hasina and others and thereby removed impediments to trial proceedings in the case.

Earlier, it was agreed between the court and the counsel for the accused facing the graft cases that all long-pending petitions for quashing the purchase scams of Mig-29, Frigate, consultant appointment to BEPZA and Meghnaghat power plant site preparation would be resolved one after another.

Later, Barrister Shafique Ahmed put forward the unresolved petitions before another division bench comprising Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Syed Abu Kowser M Dabirush-shan for fixing the hearings.

The mater will come up on the cause list tomorrow (Monday) for fixing the date of hearings of the petitions, court sources said. Meanwhile, the counsel for Hasina and other accused Sunday filed with the Supreme Court leave-to-appeal applications to overturn Thursday's High Court judgment that discharged their petitions trying for quashing the Mig-29 case.

"The applications are likely to be heard tomorrow (Monday) by the apex chamber judge," said a counsel for Hasina.