DHAKA, April 01, 2019 (BSS) – A Dhaka court today again adjourned the
hearing on charge framing in Niko graft case against BNP chairperson Begum
Khaleda Zia and others.
Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka 9th special judge court passed the
order, setting April 10 to hold hearing on charge framing.
Today was set for holding hearing on charge framing, but the jail
authorities couldn’t produce Khaleda Zia before court, sending custody
warrant instead, saying the BNP chief is sick.
The court on earlier occasion, expressed its displeasure over the
repeated adjournment, adding, “Hearing on charge framing in this case is
going on for long four years.”
The court had said it would pass order if the defence failed to hold
hearing on charge framing on the next day (April 1).
The ACC filed the case against five including Khaleda with Tejgaon
police station on December 9, 2007, for abusing power in signing 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.
Khaleda is now behind bars after getting convicted in Zia Orphanage
Trust graft case on February 8, 2018. She was sentenced to five-year
imprisonment, which later enhanced to 10 by the High Court.
Khaleda was also sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Zia Charitable
Trust graft case.