Judge \\\'unable\\\' to hear Ershad case

The judge in a case against former president HM Ershad over suspected corruption in the purchase of radars has pleaded his 'inability' to hear the case. Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Abdur Rashid also ordered the sending back of the case documents to Dhaka District and Sessions Judge's Court on Wednesday, the fourth day of hearing the arguments of the state. Court official Rafiqul Islam and state lawyer Shahin Ahmed Khan said that the judge expressed his 'inability' to hear the case halfway through the submission of arguments. Shahin said: 'The judge said in the court pn Wednesday that he could not hear the case anymore. He couldn't also pronounce a verdict (in the case).' The lawyer could not confirm if the judge was embarrassed or if there was any other reason for his 'inability'. Submission of arguments in the case began on May 29. The then Anti Corruption Bureau filed the case on May 4, 1992, around 1-and-half-year after Ershad stepped down on Dec 6, 1990. A charge sheet was submitted against the former military ruler on Oct 27, 1994, according to bdnews24.com.