The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Metropolitan Sessions Judge's court yesterday rejected detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's bail petition in Barapukuria Coalmine case, one of four graft cases she is facing after the January 11, 2007 changeover in the country's political arena.

However, the High Court toady granted interim bail to two of her former cabinet ministers-Shamsul Islam and MK Anwar-in the same case.

Metropolitan Sessions judge Md Azizul Haque rejected the immediate-past premier's bail prayer on grounds that the case was filed under the unassailable Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

On February 26 this year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Shahbagh police against Khaleda and 15 others, including 10 former ministers from BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, for graft in awarding Barapukuria coalmine operation contract to a Chinese company.

In the FIR it was stated that tender for Barapukuria Coalmine International Ltd was invited in 2003 for appointment of contractor for production, management and maintenance of the coalmine and three international companies took part in the bidding.

Later, the contract between Shandong Ludi Consortium and Barapukuria Coalmine Company Ltd (BCMCL) was cancelled by the authority as it did not abide by the conditions of the contract.

"Instead of offering the work to Suju Coal Mining Group Consortium, the second-lowest bidder, the contract was given to China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) consortium, the highest bidder, causing a loss of over Tk 159 crore," says the case statement.

About the responsibility of former PM Khaleda Zia the FIR states that as she had held the charge of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, "the decision was not taken beyond her knowledge-and she didn't accept the proposal of Petrobangla for re-tender".

The ex-PM and BNP chairperson, arrested in September last year amid a clampdown on the political arena following the January 11, 2007 changeover, is also facing three other graft cases, namely, Niko, Gatco and Zia Orphanage graft cases.