The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Secretaries General of both groups of the BNP-Khandkar Delwar Hossain and Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed and of Jamaat-e-Islami Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid yesterday protested the filing of Barapukaria Coal Mining graft case by the ACC against the top leaders of their respective political parties.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday sued detained former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and all members of her Cabinet's Purchase Committee, including M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizamee, Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, MK Anwar, M Shamsul Islam, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Barrister Aminul Haque, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury-and former State Minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, implicating them in the new corruption case, blaming they have incurred a loss to the tune of Tk 157 crore and 75 lakhs through corruption, while awarding contract to foreign business firm in connivance with each other and other co-accused.

BNP Secretary General Khandkar Delwar Hossain, Acting Secretary Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed and Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid separately protested against the case, vowing they would fight the charge in the Court of Law.

Khandaker Delwar has termed the fresh corruption case against the party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia as 'false, fabricated and motivated'.

He said the fresh case against Begum Zia was intended to keep her behind the bar and annihilate politically.

Khandaker Delwar was highly critical of the Government for implicating her, as she is the indisputable political leader of the country, in a false case.

He demanded withdrawal of the case and immediate release of Begum Zia, who is detained in two other corruption cases.

Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed termed 'regrettable' the corruption case against Begum Zia, Saifur Rahman, Mannan Bhuiyan and his former cabinet colleagues.

"It is hoped that they will get justice in the Court," he said.

Major Hafiz returned home yesterday after treatment in Singapore.

Condemning the case, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid said he and his party Chief Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami had never been involved in any corruption, while in power.

"We will fight the case in the Court," he said.