The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A Special Judge's Court in the capital yesterday framed charge indicting detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and seven others in Tk 3 crore Barge-mounted Power Plant scam case.

Judge M Firoj Alam of the Special Judge's Court-1, trying high profile corruption cases on the premises of Parliament Building complex amid tight security, passed the order and fixed May 21 for the beginning of the trial with recording deposition of prosecution witnesses (PWs).

Before passing the order the judge rejected the defence's plea for acquitting Sheikh Hasina from the charge of taking Tk 3 crore bribe in awarding floating barge-mounted power plants to the private companies.

Her co-accused are-former Energy Secretary Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, former Power Development Board (PDB) Chairman Noor Uddin Mahmud Kamal, Managing Director of Summit Industries and Mercantile Corporation Private Ltd Aziz Khan, its Director Farid Khan, United Group's Chairman Hasan Mahmud Raja and its Director Abul Kalam Azad and Curator of Bangabandhu Memorial Trust Siddiqur Rahman.

Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League (AL), pleaded innocence, while appearing on the dock and confidently said she would be proved not guilty in the case if the Court was allowed deliver judgment independently.

Terming the Barge-mounted Power Plant graft case 'a false, fabricated and politically motivated move' she expressed doubts about getting fair justice

in reply to the Court, which after framing charges, asked her whether she was guilty or not.

The former Prime Minister, who gave an hour-long speech in the Court, also listed pro-people development programmes taken and implemented by her Government, her chief counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed told journalists after the hearing.

Her detained co-accused, Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, also pleaded innocence when the Court asked his views about the charge. He termed the case a "litany of willful and malicious concoctions-a new episode in the Hirok Rajar Deshe."

Sheikh Hasina was charged under section 161 of Bangladesh Penal Code (BPC), section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption (Prevention) Act 1947 and some sections of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR). The other co-accused in the case were charged under sections 161 and 165ka of BPC and section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption (Prevention) Act 1947.

Section 161 of BPC provides jail term of maximum three years and fine or both, while section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption (Prevention) Act 1947 provides imprisonment for seven years, said ACC Chief Special Public Prosecutor in the case Sharfuddin Khan Mukul.

He said the prosecution would be able to complete the trial within two months, 30 days ahead of the time limit as per the EPR. "It is a fit case for gratification and there is enough evidence to prove the scam," he said.

To prove the case, the prosecution may not need to examine all the 54 PWs, he asserted.

On September 2 last year, ACC Deputy Director Sabbir Hasan filed the case with Tejgaon police station. He accused Hasina and six others of using their influence through collusion in helping a foreign company and its local partners win a deal for setting up three 100-MW barge-mounted power plants at Haripur, Khulna and Shikalbaha sites,

depriving the lowest bidder.

Morshed Alam, Deputy Director of the ACC, who was the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case submitted the charge sheet of the case on January 10 this year, incorporating the name of Siddiqur Rahman, Curator of Bangabandhu Memorial Trust.

Of them, the detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi appeared on the dock, while the remaining seven accused remained absconding.

The Court sat at 9:55am after Sheikh Hasina was produced on the dock amid tight security.

Before the Court resumed, the newly elected leaders of the Dhaka District Bar Association, led by its President Khandaker Abdul Mannan, met Sheikh Hasina in the courtroom.

Congratulating the new bar leadership, she urged them to launch movement for the restoration of democracy, saying that there is no alternative to it.

Recalling the role of the lawyers in the past for establishing democracy and the rule of law, Sheikh Hasina said the lawyers should have continue to play their due role in this regard.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed and Advocates Towfiq Newaz, Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Syed Rezaur Rahman, Sahara Khatun, Abdul Mannan Khan, Quamrul Islam and Barrister Fazle Noor Tapas were, among others, appeared in the Court for Sheikh Hasina, while Advocate Kazi Sajwar Hossain stood for Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi

Detained former prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina declared in court Sunday that framing charges against her in

The Court fixed May 21 for witness depositions to commence in the case.

If found guilty, Sheikh Hasina may have to serve a minimum 2 to maximum sentence of 12 years.

"Even if Sheikh Hasina appealed to the higher Court after being punished in the case, she could be able to contest any elections, as per section 11 (5) of the emergency power rules" Advocate Sharfuddin Khan Mukul observed.

Dismissing his observation, Chief Defence Counsel Barrister Shafique Ahmed said the prosecution would not be able to prove the charges, as there are self-contradictions in their evidences. "And as a result, Sheikh Hasina will be proved innocent and set free," he observed.