The New Nation - Internet Edition

Court Correspondent

A court of Dhaka has accepted the First Information Report (FIR) of the graft case filed against 16 persons including former prime minister Khaleda Zia, former Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, former LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Amir of Jamaat Moulana Matiur Rahman Naizmee.

Golam Rabbani, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) of Dhaka fixed March 30 for submission of inquiny report, Shamsul Alam, Assistant Director of Anti-Corruption Commission, Tuesday filed the case with Shahbagh Thana of the city in connection with irrgularities Barapukuria coalmine.

Meanwhile, another former Prime Minister detained Sheikh Hasina was not produced before the court yesterday in the graft case filed for corruption about the purchase of eight Mig-29 fighter plane.

Another accused, businessman Nur Ali did not appear before the court and his lawyer prayed for time. Other five accused retired Air commodore Mirza Akhter Faruqe, retired Air Mashal Kamal Uddin Ahmed, retired Chief of Army Staff Mostafizur Rahman, Md. Hossain Sericbat and Syed Yusuf Hossain were present before the court.

Yesterday was fixed for pressing charge agianst the accused. However, as the accused prayed for time Golam Murtaja Majumder, Divisional Special Judge of Dhaka granted time and fixed March 13 for next hearing.

On December 11, 2001 former Anti-Corruption Bureau official Abdullah-Al-Zahid filed the case with Tejgaon Thana of the city. He had alleged, the accuseds in connivance with one another purchased the fighter planes at higher price causing loss of Taka 700 crore to the national exchequer.