Niko graft case hearing against Khaleda on August 14
- Update Time : Wednesday, 9 August, 2023, 03:07 pm
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Online Desk: The High Court on Wednesday adjourned till August 14 the hearing on the petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Niko graft case. An HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Aminul Islam set the date today after ending the first day hearing.
At the same time, the court said it will conclude the hearing on August 14. Lawyer Kaysar Kamal was at the court on behalf of Khaleda Zia, while lawyer Md Khurshid Alam was present for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
During the hearing, Kaysar Kamal said, “Senior lawyer of this case AJ Mohammad Ali was not present today due to her illness. He will hold the hearing and we sought time.” Then the HC fixed the date for the last time. The ACC on December 9, 2007, filed the case against five, including Khaleda Zia with Tejgaon Police Station, for abusing power in signing a deal with Canadian company Niko for exploring and extracting gas.
On March 19 this year, Judge of Dhaka Special Court-9 Sheikh Hafizur Rahman framed charges against Khaleda and seven others in Niko graft case. The court also set May 23 for recording testimonies of the witnesses. The anti-graft body pressed charges in court against 11 people, including Khaleda, in May 2008.
The other accused in the case are former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, CM Yusuf Hossain, former Bapex general manager Mir Mainul Haq, Giasuddin Al Mamun, former parliamentarian MAH Selim and former vice-president of South Asia affairs of Niko Kashem Sharif.
Among the accused, BNP Standing Committee Member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain and former secretary of Bapex Shafiur Rahman died during the trial proceedings.
