The judgement was not delivered as Judge SM Mujibur Rahman of the First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court was on leave.

Judge (in charge) Mohammad Aman Ullah of the Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court set the date.

The delivery of judgement in the case has been adjourned for the fourth time.

On February 6, the verdict was not given as the judge could not complete preparing the judgement, while the court adjourned it until February 15 following a time petition submitted by Ershad's lawyers.

Moreover, the verdict was not delivered on March 6 as the judge was on leave on that day.

A team of customs officials held four people, including two foreign nationals, at Zia International

Airport on July 17, 1990 while they were trying to smuggle around 3.6 kg of gold worth around Tk 2.5 crore into Bangladesh, the prosecution said.

A smuggling case was filed with Cantonment Police Station the same day against the four -- Bernhard Rudiger of Germany, David Anthony Chalmar Chaker of England, the then manager of Zia International Airport Major (retd) Ashraf Uddin Sekender and Abu Taher, an airport security guard.

During the investigation, the IO found evidence of Ershad's involvement in the smuggling and his name was included in the charge sheet on August 31, 1991.

2 MORE CASES
Another Dhaka court yesterday recorded statement of a prosecution witness in connection with a case filed against Ershad for setting up electronic news gathering (ENG) equipment in his secretariat for broadcasting facilities.

The court recorded the PW's statement after four years whereas the complainant of the case gave his deposition on March 29, 2003.

On the other hand, the same court adjourned the proceedings of another graft case until April 29 following a time petition by the prosecution lawyers.

In the first case filed with Tejgaon Police Station, it was alleged that Ershad, while in power, directed the authorities concerned to set up electronic news gathering equipment worth about Tk 2.93 crore at his secretariat.

The former president also directed the authorities concerned to create eight new posts for this purpose, the prosecution said.

Judge Malik Abdullah Al Amin of the Special Court for Dhaka Division recorded statement of former assistant engineer of Bangladesh Television (BTV) Iqbal Ahmed Bhuiyan and set April 29 for next hearing of the case.

In the second case field with the same police station, it was alleged that the former president, defying the authorities' decision, directed to accept donation from France instead of Finland for setting up 'microwave telephone lines' in 49 upazilas.

Due to Ershad's unilateral decision, the government had to pay Tk 28 crore to France in interest, as the plan was not implemented finally, sources said.