The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB , Dhaka

The hearing on defence argument encountering the prosecution proposal for framing charge against ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and six others in the Mig-29 warplane purchase graft case was Thursday further held back until June 26.

Dhaka divisional special judge M Golam Mortuza Majumder passed the order of deferment responding to a defence time petition, which was opposed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor.

Hasina's lawyer Sahara Khatun submitted the time petition on grounds of preoccupation with cases in the Supreme Court by Barrister Shafique Ahmed who is supposed to initiate the submission of defence argument. The lawyers of other accused in the case supported the plea.

Opposing the defence plea, the Chief Special Public Prosecutor Sharfuddin Khan Mukul suggested that the defence counsel for other accused make their arguments against the charge framing by the time for continuation of legal process.

On June 2, the prosecution proposed framing charges against Awami League president Hasina and six other co-accused persons.

Earlier, the court, relocated to the Sangsad Bhaban complex for trying high-profile corruption suspects, resumed at 9:55 am after the accused now on bail appeared. They are former army chief Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman, former air-force chief Marshal (retd) Jamal Uddin Ahmed, retired defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, Air Commodore (retd) Mirza Akhtar Maruf, retired defence joint secretary Mohammad Hossain Serniabat and businessman Noor Ali.

Sahara Khatun represented Hasina as she has been dispensed with personal attendance during trial proceedings. The Awami League chief, temporarily released on June 11 by an executive order for her treatment overseas, is now in the United States.

According to the case filed with Tejgaon Police Station, the purchase of the Mig-29 aircraft caused a loss of Tk 700 crore to the exchequer.

Shortly after the BNP-led four-party alliance came to power, the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption filed the Mig-scam case in December 2001. The incumbent caretaker government revived the stalled case through legal battle, as a clean-up drive against corruption is now underway.