Hearing on Khaleda’s petition over changing court adjourned

The High Court yesterday adjourned till June 10 the hearing on a writ petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, challenging legality of a government notification that said the Niko corruption case trial against her will be held at a special court in Keraniganj Central Jail.

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Md Khairul Alam adjourned the hearing as petitioners’ counsels did not produce sufficient relevant documents before it, Anti-Corruption Commission’s lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star.

The ACC lawyer, however, said there is no legal bar for the special court to hold trial of the case as the HC did not pass any stay order on the government notification.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali appeared for Khaleda Zia. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam argued for the state.

On May 13, the law ministry issued a gazette notification, saying that trials of 17 cases, including the Niko graft case, against the BNP chairperson would be held at a special court set up at building-2 in Keraniganj Central Jail for security reasons.

Khaleda filed the writ petition with the HC on May 26.

Niko graft case trial was being held at a special court inside the Old Dhaka Central Jail.

Trials of 16 other cases were being held at a makeshift court at Government Alia Madrasa in Dhaka’s Bakshibazar.