The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The High Court on Monday stayed the trial proceedings for two months in the barge-mounted power plant and Niko graft cases against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Masuk Hossain Ahmed issued the order of stay after hearing two separate petitions filed by Sheikh Hasina seeking quashment of the charges in the cases.

She alleged in the petitions that both the cases were brought against her with political motives and to defame her.

She also claimed that due process was also not followed during investigation of the cases and submission of the charge sheets.

The court also asked the authorities concerned by issuing a rule to show cause within four weeks why the cases would not be quashed.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lodged a case on September 2 last year, with the allegation that Hasina took Taka 3 crore as kickbacks through eight pay orders for Bangabandhu Memorial Trust from Wartsila Power Development Limited to approve its proposal for installing the plant while the Awami League was in power between 1996- 2001.

The second case was also lodged by the ACC on November 9 last year, accusing Hasina and six others of corruption and abuse of power in awarding a gas exploration and extraction deal to Niko, a Canadian company, that caused a loss of Taka 13,630 crore to the state while her government was in power from 1996-2001.