Responding to a petition, the High Court on Sunday re-fixed March 10 for judgment on its long-pending rule asking the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why the case filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, also a former Prime Minister, should not be quashed.

An HC division bench, comprising Justice M Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan, passed its revised order.

Earlier, after an ex parte rule hearing, the HC had set March 10 for its judgment.

Emerging from the court, barrister Bodruddoza Badal, a counsel for Khaleda Zia, told reporters that the court re-fixed the date for order allowing us to make argument over the rule.

Nearly six and half years back, following a petition filed by Khaleda Zia, the High Court on October 16, 2008 stayed the case proceedings and issued a rule upon the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why the case filed against the accused should not be quashed.

During the military-backed caretaker government, the ACC on February 26, 2008 filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station in the capital accusing ex- Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and others, including her former 10 cabinet colleagues, of taking kickbacks amounting to about Tk 159 crore on the Barapukuria Coalmine deal awarded to the highest bidder instead of the lowest one.

UNB/TF