Shawdesh Desk:

A Dhaka court has adjourned till September 17 the indictment hearing in Barapukuria coal mine graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and others.

Judge AHM Ruhul Imran of Dhaka Special Judges’ Court 2 set the new date for holding hearing on charge framing on Thursday in absence of the prime accused.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (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 Tk159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for operation of Barapukuria coal mine 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.