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Download PDF Proceedings of the barge-mounted power plant graft case against detained Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina remained adjourned for the first two hours yesterday as the lawyers protested against rude behaviour by a police officer to journalists.
As the journalists continued their courtroom boycott for the second day yesterday, the former premier expressed suspicion that she might be put on a “camera trial” in absence of the press.
The journalists, however, called off their programme at 1:30pm after DC (prosecution) Akkas Uddin Bhuiyan and Additional Commissioner (prosecution) Makbul Hossain made apology for the incident.
Earlier, Hasina in white saree reached the court at 9:45am. As Judge Firoz Alam of the special court-1 appeared, the defence drew his attention to the issue.
Both the defence and the prosecution protested against the incident and the defence lawyers refused to submit arguments in absence of newspersons.
The prosecution lawyers also expressed concern over the incident.
The judge said it is necessary to have the presence of journalists in the court during proceedings and expressed satisfaction over the media coverage in connection with the case, lawyers said.
“The trial should not proceed in the present situation as the journalists are absent. It will be a camera trial if the journalists do not attend it,” said Hasina in her single speech at the court yesterday.
As the defence refused to begin their argument in absence of the press, the judge requested them to begin. The defence began their argument around 12:00pm as the judge requested them again.
They resumed and continued their argument on discharge petition for the fourth consecutive sitting of the court.
The defence continued argument on law point claiming that their client was not involved in any graft regarding setting-up of the barge-mounted power plant and charges cannot be framed against her.
They submitted the discharge petition on April 3 and argued on different points including the government’s rules of business, the constitution and laws.
The court adjourned the trial of the case till April 21.
Earlier, the journalists observed a 30-minute pen-down programme on parliament premises yesterday.
Prosecution lawyer Syed Ahsan Habib Shamim convened a meeting at his room and played the role of a mediator to resolve the problem. He also pledged to influence authorities concerned to meet the journalists’ six-point demand.
The journalists walked out of the courtroom and boycotted it on April 15 after Makbul forced a journalist leave a chair inside the courtroom.
There is no sitting arrangement for journalists in the courtroom.
THE CASE
Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Director Sabbir Hasan filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station complaining that Hasina and six others, in collusion and abusing power, helped a foreign company and its local partners win a deal for setting up a 100MW barge-mounted power plant in Khulna, depriving the lowest bidder.
The six others accused in the case are former energy secretary Dr Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, former Power Development Board (PDB) chairman Noor Uddin Mahmud Kamal, Managing Director of Summit Industries and Mercantile Corporation Private Ltd Aziz Khan and Director Farid Khan, United Group Chairman Hasan Mahmud Raja and Director Abul Kalam Azad.
The curator of Bangabandhu Memorial Trust was also later indicted in the case.
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