Dhaka, Feb 13 (bdnews24.com) – The High Court has acquitted the prime minister's energy advisor from the charges of authorising 'illegal contracts' for setting up three barge-mountain power plants.
The bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain gave the verdict on Sunday.
Energy advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury was one of the principal accused in the corruption charge against Sheikh Hasina and her associates.
Earlier, Hasina was also relieved of the case following a petition.
The Anti-corruption Commission filed the case on Sept 2, 2007, naming eight people.
Tawfiq challenged legitimacy of the case to the High Court. The court had put a stay order and approved his bail on Feb 3, 2008.
The court also demanded explanation about why the case should not be dismissed. Home secretary, joint secretary, ACC chairman, secretary and assistant secretary were given four weeks to explain about the case.
The graft watchdog accused Hasina, then power secretary Tawfiq and the others of taking Tk 30 million in bribes from Wartsila Power Development Limited Consortium's local representative, and Summit Group and United Group representatives, in exchange for awarding the contracts to set up three power plants in Khulna, Shikalbaha and Haripur.
Hasina was shown arrested in this case on Sep 19, 2007. Tawfiq surrendered to the court on Jan 16 the same year.
Lawyers Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Mehedi Hasan stood for the defendant during the hearing, while A K Ali stood for the complainant.
bdnews24.com/sn/at/ha/mah/pks/am/2012h
