The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The High Court on Wednesday asked former finance minister Saifur Rahman and former social welfare minister Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid to appear before the trial court to seek bail in Barapukuria coal mine graft case.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Md Mujammel Hossain and Justice Afzal Hossain Ahmed asked BNP Standing Committee member Saifur and Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mujahid to surrender before the trial court by November 10.

The court also set November 11 to hear their petitions seeking quashment of the charges brought against them, court officials said.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lodged the case with Shahbagh thana on February 26 against 16 persons including former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Nine former ministers of her cabinet and a state minister and five others were also accused in the case.

They were accused of awarding the contract for production, management and maintenance work of Barapukuria coal mine in connivance with each other to China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation ignoring the legal procedure. The deal caused a loss of Taka 158.71 crore to the state.

The ACC submitted chargesheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka on October 5 against the 16 persons, who were accused in the FIR.