The High Court today cleared the way for a trial court to resume its proceedings against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Barapukuria corruption case.

The court vacated its earlier order that had stayed the trial proceedings in the case.

The HC bench of Md Nuruzzaman and Justice Abdur Rob today came up with the verdict after rejecting a writ petition filed by Khaleda in 2008 challenging the legality of the trial proceedings.

Khurshid Alam Khan, a lawyer of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) told The Daily Star that there is no legal bar for the trial court to resume its proceedings against Khaleda in the case following the HC verdict.

Khaleda will remain on bail in the case, Khan said.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case on February 26, 2008 accusing Khaleda and 15 others of causing a loss of Tk 159 crore to the state exchequer by awarding a contract for operation of Barapukuria coalmine to a Chinese company through abuse of power.

Earlier, the HC rejected some petitions of Khaleda clearing the way for lower courts concerned to continue trial proceedings against her in Gatco, Niko, Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases.