Dhaka, Nov 20 (V7N)- The hearing on the charge sheet in the Barapukuria coal mine corruption case commenced today, with accused BNP leaders Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain appearing in court.

Defense lawyers argued that the coal extraction tender was conducted following all legal procedures. They alleged that the case, initially filed by the One Eleven government, was politically motivated to suppress the leadership of both BNP and Awami League.

During the proceedings, the defense claimed that after Sheikh Hasina assumed power, she influenced the court to have her name withdrawn from the case. They further accused her government of using the judiciary to target BNP leaders, including Khaleda Zia, prolonging the case proceedings unnecessarily.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer was prepared to proceed with framing charges on October 5, but the court deferred the hearing to today following a petition from seven accused seeking exemption from the case.

The case, filed more than a decade ago, centers on allegations of irregularities in the awarding of contracts for coal extraction at the Barapukuria coal mine. The legal proceedings continue to draw significant political attention as both parties maintain their innocence while accusing each other of political vendettas.

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