Hearing on charge framing Feb 4

A Dhaka court yesterday fixed February 4 for hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 10 others in connection with the Niko graft case.

Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of the Special Judge Court-9 of Dhaka passed the order at the makeshift court set up inside Old Dhaka Central Jail after hearing both defence and prosecution lawyers.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was taken to the court in a wheelchair around 12:25pm. She did not say anything throughout the hearing. 

During the hearing, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed, an accused in the case, told the court, “It's not true that I served as a legal adviser of Niko.”

“The Niko agreement was made during the then Awami League-led government. It was said I served as a legal adviser and gave my opinions in favour of the contract,” he said.

Moudud added, “All allegations in this case have been made based on assumptions.”

However, Public Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Mosharraf Hossain Kajol, told reporters, “ACC has submitted the charge sheet based on evidence.”

“We hope the hearing on charge framing will be concluded on the next date. And the court will frame the charges against the accused,” Kajol said.

Meanwhile, Advocate AUZ Prince, lawyer of the accused AKM Mosharrof Hossain, filed a time petition saying Mosharrof was very ill. The court granted it and said Mosharrof must appear before it at the next hearing.

Two defence lawyers spoke to Khaleda Zia at the court during yesterday's hearing. Wishing not to be named, one defence lawyer told reporters, “Khaleda Zia talked about her health. Despite physical sickness, she [Khaleda] is mentally very strong.”