The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A court here yesterday re-fixed dates for further hearing of dispositions of witnesses to two graft cases against former President and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad.

Divisional Special Judge M Golam Morshed Majumder re-fixed January 11, 2008 as the next date for dispositions of witnesses to the case filed against Ershad for corruption in procurement of rudders for Bangladesh Biman.

The Judge re-fixed the date as witnesses to the case could not appear

before the court yesterday

The court also deferred the date of disposition by witnesses to November 2 in another case filed against HM Ershad for corruption in installing digital telephone lines in 89 upazilas of the country.

The court re-fixed the date to record statements of five more important witnesses to the case and collect further evidences.

During his regime, HM Ershad with the help of Kazi Feroz Rashid and T&T former Chairman Maksud Ali Khan allegedly caused a loss of Tk 28.62 crore to the state coffer in the name of installing digital telephone lines in 89 upazilas and inflicted a burden of Tk 71.56 lakh loan on the government yearly.

The former president who ruled the country for nine years with an iron hand appeared before the court along with his counsels in the morning.