Shawdesh Desk:

A Dhaka court adjourned till March 29 the indictment hearing in Barapukuria Coal Mine graft case against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and others.

Judge AHM Ruhul Imran of Dhaka Special Judge Court-2 set the new date for holding hearing on charge framing in absence of the prime accused Begum Khaleda Zia as she is undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital.

The ACC on February 26, 2008, filed the graft case against Khaleda Zia and 15 others with Shahbagh police station.

They were accused of causing a loss of Taka 159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for operation of Barapukuria coalmine to a Chinese company through abuse of power.

Of the 16, six have already died and their names are expected to be dropped from the case during framing of the charges.