After scrutinising the discharge petitions of the two and case diary (CD), Judge Rezaul Karim Khan of the Special Court for Dhaka Division issued the order.

The charges brought against the accused were not proved. So the accused were acquitted of the charges, the order said.

Earlier the defence lawyers submitted two separate discharge petitions and made submissions on the issue while the prosecution opposed.

In the case filed with Ramna Police Station, it has been alleged that Mosharraf, while in the charge of energy and mineral resources, awarded the Tk 674.44 crore work to explore Baropukuria coal at Dinajpur to a foreign company without floating tender for personal interest. It caused a loss of Tk 16 crore to the state.

The Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAC) filed the case accusing Dr Mosharraf Hossain on September 1, 1998 during the Awami League reign. But the investigation officer later included the name of Abdullah in the charge sheet as his involvement revealed during the investigation.

Meanwhile, the defence lawyers for the accused Mosharraf filed a petition with the High Court (HC) for quashing the case on January 28, 2001. After hearing, the HC issued a rule upon the government to explain why the charges against the accused should not be quashed. The court also kept all the proceedings staying till disposal of the rule.

After three years and four months, the HC on April 11 this year rejected the petition for quashing the case and discharged the rule. The court directed the lower court to dispose of the case.