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Download PDF A Dhaka court yesterday ordered former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the five other accused in the MiG-29 warplane purchase graft case to appear before it on August 20.
The court rejected petitions for discharging Hasina and the other accused from the case.
Judge Golam Mortuza Majumder of the Special Judge’s Court, Dhaka Division, also set August 20 for its decision whether to frame charges in the case.
The court relieved late army chief Gen (retd) Mustafizur Rahman, another accused in the case, of all charges. Gen Mustafiz died on August 3.
Hasina, also Awami League president, now abroad for treatment, was exempted on June 9 from appearing in person for proceedings of the case. She was represented by advocate Sahara Khatun yesterday.
On August 5, the government extended parole of Hasina by a month until September 6 to facilitate her treatment in US.
Defence counsel Yusuf Hossain Humayun filed a petition yesterday seeking adjournment of proceedings of the case until Hasina returns home.
He argued that it is necessary for an accused to be present in court during charge framing.
Opposing the defence, Public Prosecutor ABM Sharfuddin Khan Mukul said it is not mandatory to be present during charge framing if one is exempted from court appearance.
Charge framing should proceed without wasting further time as the defence counsels participated in the charge framing proceedings, and also stood on behalf of Hasina.
After hearing both the sides, the court, located on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises, passed its order.
Earlier, counsels of Gen Mustafiz had submitted to the court his death certificate and pleaded for relieving him of the charges.
Prosecution lawyers apologised to family members of the late army chief if he had felt hurt during the court proceedings.
The other accused in the case are former air force chief Jamaluddin Ahmed, former defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain, air commodore (retd) Mirza Akhter Maruf, former joint secretary Mohammad Hossain Serniabat and Unique Group Managing Director Nur Ali.
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