ZCZC
BSS-18
HEARING-KHALEDA-NIKO
Hearing of Niko graft case adjourned till Feb 4
DHAKA, Jan 21, 2019 (BSS) – A Dhaka court today adjourned the hearing of
Niko graft case against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and 10 others till
February 4.
Dhaka ninth special judge court passed the order after holding hearing in
part on charge framing in the case. Barrister Moudud Ahmed, who is also an
accused in the case, took part in the hearing for Khaleda in her presence.
Today’s hearing was also held in part for another accused Shahidul Haque.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against five including
Khaleda with Tejgaon Police Station on December 9, 2007 for abusing power to
pen a deal with Canadian company Niko for exploring and extracting gas.
The ACC on May 5, 2008, submitted charge-sheet against 11 people including
Khaleda Zia.
Accepting a petition filed by Khaleda, the HC on July 9, 2008, stayed the
case proceedings and issued the rule.
The High Court on June 18, 2015, passed an order paving way for
continuation of the graft case against the BNP leader before the trial court.
The court had also asked the BNP chief to surrender before the concerned
trial court within two months.
But following a fresh petition of Khaleda Zia, the High Court on March 7,
2017, again stayed the proceedings of the case.
BSS/DA-MHR/SSS/1654 hrs