Writs challenging cases against Khaleda, son filed

Dhaka, Sep 28 (UNI) Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has filed writ petitions before the High Court challenging the legality of corruption cases against herself and son Arafat Rahman Koko.

The petitions questioning the bringing of the graft case against them under the Emergency Power Rules (EPR) by the caretaker government, which robs them of the right to bail.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the graft case on September 2, alleging that Begum Zia and others received kickbacks in tendering the work to Gatco at Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dhaka and Chittagong in 2003.

Eight accused in the case, including the BNP chairperson, her son Arafat Rahman Koko and six former officials of Chittagong Port and ICD, Dhaka are under detention.

A Division Bench is likely to hear the petitions on Sunday, the Daily Star reported.

The counsel for Ms Zia argued that the bringing of the case under EPR was illegal as due procedures were not followed.

It also said the charges based on an incident that had taken place before the state of emergency was declared cannot be brought under the EPR.

The petitions requested a stay on the proceedings of the case.

Two detained former ministers -- Moudud Ahmed and Najmul Huda -- also filed writ petitions before the High Court challenging the cases that the ACC filed against them for amassing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

UNI