The High Court today deferred the date of verdict delivery to March 15 on a petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for quashing the proceedings of Barapukuria coalmine corruption case against her.

The HC bench of Justice Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan fixed the date after Khaleda's lawyer Zainul Abedin prayed to the court to shift the date for passing the judgement saying that they will place argument on this matter.

Earlier on March 5, the court had fixed today for delivering the judgement after hearing arguments from Khurshid Alam Khan, a counsel for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) which filed the case on February 26, 2008.

However, Khaleda's lawyers were not present before the court on that day.

The anti-graft body filed the case, accusing Khaleda and 15 others of causing a loss of Tk 159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for the operation of Barapukuria coalmine to a Chinese company abusing power.

Following a petition filed by Khaleda, the HC on October 16 in 2008 stayed the proceedings of the case against her and also issued a rule upon the government and the ACC to show cause as to why the proceedings against her in the case should not be quashed.