HC rejects Hasina's writ challenging legality of MIG graft case

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Aug 6 (BSS) - The High Court today rejected a writ petition filed by Sheikh Hasina challenging the legality of the MIG purchase graft case against her.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Masuk Hossain Ahmed after five days hearing rejected the petition.

Hasina filed the writ before the High Court on July 20.

The then bureau of anti-corruption (BAC) lodged the graft case on December 12, 2001, accusing Sheikh Hasina and four others of misusing public money amounting to about Taka 700 crores by purchasing the MIG fighter jets from Russia when Awami League was in the power.

The chargesheet of the case was submitted on January 29, 2003, dropping two of the accused and including four new persons in the case.

Those accused in the FIR and dropped from the chargesheet were former joint secretary of the Ministry of Defence Brig General (retd) Iftekharul Bashar and former deputy secretary of the ministry Hasan Mahmud Delwar.

The other accused are former army chief General (retd) Mustafizur Rahman, former air chief Air Vice-Marshal (retd) Jamaluddin, former defence secretary Syed Yousuf Hussain, former joint secretary of the Ministry of Defence Mohammad Hossain Serniabat, Air Commodore (retd) Mirza Akhter Maruf and Managing Director of UNIC Group Noor Ali. General (retd) Mustafizur Rahman died yesterday.

The accused, including Sheikh Hasina, had filed separate petitions with the High Court at different times seeking quashment of the charges against them.

But, the High Court after hearing rejected the petitions on September 6 last year by discharging the rule issued earlier.

Later, the accused filed appeal petitions before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, but they were rejected after hearing.

Hasina filed the petition in the form of writ challenging the case with the plea that due process were not followed in filing as well as submitting chargesheet accusing them.