The stay order on the trial court’s proceedings against Chowdhury was lifted as Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim dismissed the rule on Wednesday, said Khurshid Alam Khan, a lawyer for the Anti-Corruption Commission or ACC.

The judges ordered Chowdhury to surrender within four weeks and asked the trial court to consider granting him bail if he surrenders in due time, Alam told bdnews24.com.

The ACC prosecuted BNP chief Khaleda Zia and 15 others during the army-backed caretaker government in 2008.

The anti-graft regulator filed charges against them on Oct 5, 2008.

The accused caused the state a loss of Tk 8.68 billion by signing a contract with China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation, for management and preservation of production at the Barapukuria coalmine, as per the charges.

The High Court stayed the case on Oct 16, 2008, on a petition of the accused including former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

It also issued a rule asking why the case should not be dismissed. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the HC order suspending the trial.

A High Court bench of Justice Md Nuruzaman and Justice Zafar Ahmed Hai scrapped the rule on Sept 17, 2015.

It also lifted the stay order from case proceedings clearing the way for indictment of those accused.

The lower court can now resume trial of Altaf that was earlier stalled after framing of charges against him.

The number of accused in the case now stands at 10 as four have died and two – Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid — have been executed for 1971 war crimes.

Former finance minister Saifur Rahman, former BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan, former chairman of Petrobangla SR Osmany and BNP leader MK Anwar have died.