Rule hearings in Niko, barge-mounted cases against Hasina resume tomorrow
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
The High Court (HC) Tuesday set tomorrow (Thursday) for hearing explanation from government side as to why the Niko and the barge-mounted power plant graft cases against former premier and Bangladesh Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, now abroad on parole for treatment, should not be quashed, reports UNB.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Sheikh Rezowan Ali and Justice Rais Uddin passed the order as government and Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) lawyers mentioned the matter for speedy disposal of the cases, filed in the wake of current anti-corruption drive.
On July 7, the HC, upon separate quashing petitions filed by Sheikh Hasina, had stayed for two months the proceedings of the cases and issued separate rules upon the anti-graft watchdog to explain why the cases "should not be quashed."
The government side moved to the Supreme Court (SC) against the HC rulings. On August 13, the Appellate Division of the SC advised the contesting parties to get the rules resolved back in the HC while disposing of ACC application for leave to appeal against the HC orders.
Both the stalled cases are now pending with the special courts set up at the parliament complex that deals with high-profile corruption cases following the 1/11 change of guards in state power.
The Niko scam case awaits charge hearing and the barge-mounted power plant case is in the phase of cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses by the defence counsel.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Sheikh Rezowan Ali and Justice Rais Uddin passed the order as government and Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) lawyers mentioned the matter for speedy disposal of the cases, filed in the wake of current anti-corruption drive.
On July 7, the HC, upon separate quashing petitions filed by Sheikh Hasina, had stayed for two months the proceedings of the cases and issued separate rules upon the anti-graft watchdog to explain why the cases "should not be quashed."
The government side moved to the Supreme Court (SC) against the HC rulings. On August 13, the Appellate Division of the SC advised the contesting parties to get the rules resolved back in the HC while disposing of ACC application for leave to appeal against the HC orders.
Both the stalled cases are now pending with the special courts set up at the parliament complex that deals with high-profile corruption cases following the 1/11 change of guards in state power.
The Niko scam case awaits charge hearing and the barge-mounted power plant case is in the phase of cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses by the defence counsel.