Jail authorities today failed to produce BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia before a Dhaka court in Barapukuria coal mine graft case as she expressed “unwillingness” to appear before the court.

Senior Jail Superintendent Iqbal Kabir wrote this on the custody warrant presented before the Judge ASM Ruhul Imran of the Special Judge's Court-2 of Dhaka.

Also read: Hearing on charge framing against Khaleda, 15 others on March 13

As she was not produced, the court adjourned until April 9 the hearing of charge framing of the case against Khaleda and eight others.

Of the nine accused, Barrister Aminul Huq could not appear before it as he is now at Singapore for treatment purposes.

The seven other accused who are now on bail were present at the courtroom today.

The Dhaka Court on February 26 had directed jail authorities to produce Khaleda before it today for charge framing hearing in the graft case.

Judge ASM Ruhul Imran had passed the order following a petition submitted by ACC Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol.

The eight other accused in the case were also asked to appear before the court for the hearing.

WHAT WERE THE ALLEGATIONS?

On February 2008, ACC filed the case against 16 people including Khaleda and ten of her former cabinet colleagues of taking Tk 159 crore in kickbacks on the Barapukuria coalmine deal awarded to the highest bidder.

ACC pressed charges against them on October 5, 2008.

Meanwhile, seven other accused of the case has been dropped out from the charge sheet for their deaths.