The High Court has acquitted Hosaf Group Chairman Moyazzem Hossain in the Barapukuria coal mine corruption case, dismissing the proceedings against him.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Md Zakir Hossain and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja delivered the verdict on Wednesday, declaring the rule absolute.
The case was filed at Shahbagh Police Station in 2008 on charges of causing financial loss and embezzlement of Tk158.71 crore of state funds. The Anti-Corruption Commission submitted the charge sheet against 16 accused on 5 October of the same year.
On 27 November 2024, the trial court framed charges against four people, including former acting secretary of the Energy Ministry Nazrul Islam and Hosaf Group Chairman Moyazzem Hossain.
At that time, the court acquitted BNP’s then Chairperson Khaleda Zia, party’s Standing Committee member Khondkar Mosharraf Hossain, and Vice Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury. Several others were also acquitted due to their death.
Challenging the legality of the charge framing, Moyazzem Hossain filed a petition with the High Court in 2025 seeking dismissal of the case proceedings. After a preliminary hearing, the High Court issued a rule and stayed the proceedings against him.
On Wednesday, the court declared the rule absolute, effectively acquitting Moyazzem Hossain from the case.
Lawyers ABM Altaf Hossain and Khondkar Maruf Hossain appeared for Moyazzem Hossain, while lawyer Shahin Ahmed represented the ACC.
