Court to hear MiG-29 case against Hasina on Feb 29

Dhaka, Feb 18 (UNI) The hearing on MiG-29 corruption case against former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and six others will be held on February 29.

Judge Golam Mortuza Majumder of special court for Dhaka Division directed the jail authorities to produce Hasina who is currently detained in a sub-jail at Sangsad Bhaban complex, on the scheduled date, the local media reported.

The prosecution yesterday submitted a petition to start proceeding of the case following which the hearing date was fixed after obtaining the High Court's vacation order on stay order that the defence secured five years back, The Daily Star reported.

The court also summoned the six other accused including former air force chief Jamaluddin Ahmed, former army chief Mustafizur Rahman and former defence secretary Syed Yusuf Hossain who are out on bail, to turn up for the hearing.

The case, filed against Hasina and the top defence officials with Tejgaon Police Station, charged that the purchase of eight MiG-29 fighter jets during the Awami League government caused a loss of Tk 700 crore to the public exchequer.

Earlier on September 6 last year, the HC vacated the stay order that another HC bench passed following seven separate writ petitions seeking quashment of the case. The HC order removed the legal bar to starting the proceedings of the case, the report said.

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