Hosaf Group chairman Moazzem acquitted in Barapukuria coal mine corruption case

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Hosaf Group Chairman Moazzem Hossain has been acquitted from Dinajpur’s Barapukuria coal mine corruption case.

After the hearing of Moazzem Hossain’s application to cancel the proceedings, Justice Md. The High Court bench consisting of Zakir Hossain and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja gave this verdict today.

Earlier, in this case, on November 27, 2024, the judicial court formed a complaint against four people, including Nazrul Islam, former acting secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Moazzem Hossain, chairman of Hosaf Group. BNP’s then chairperson Khaleda Zia, party’s standing committee member Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain and vice chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury were acquitted from the case. A few others were acquitted of the case as they died outside of it.

Last year, Moazzem Hossain appealed to the High Court to cancel the proceedings regarding the validity of the complaint. On January 27 last year, the High Court suspended the proceedings in the case of Moazzem Hossain after the preliminary hearing. The ruling asked why the proceedings of the case should not be declared null and void. Today the verdict was declared as Rule Absolute (correct).

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Senior lawyer ABM Altaf Hossain and lawyer Khandkar Maruf Hossain were in the hearing on behalf of Moazzem Hossain. Lawyer Shaheen Ahmed heard on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

After the verdict, senior lawyer ABM Altaf told Prothom Alo that Moazzem Hossain was accused of cooperation in the case. The prime accused in the case have already been acquitted. After the acquittal of the main accused, the case against the accomplice cannot proceed. The High Court acquitted Moazzem Hossain of the charges. In his case, the proceedings of the case have been declared null and void.

In 2008, the case was filed in the capital’s Shahbag police station. The case alleged irregularities in the appointment of contractors for mining, management and maintenance of Barapukuria mine. In the case, the state is accused of causing damage and embezzlement of Tk 158 crore 71 lakh. ACC filed a charge sheet against 16 accused on October 5 of the same year.