Trial of Niko graft case against Khaleda begins
The trial of the Niko graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and seven others began at a Dhaka court today with the deposition of the complainant.
Before that, the court rejected the petition submitted by Khaleda's lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder, seeking an adjournment of the hearing.
Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of the Special Judge's Court-9 of Dhaka recorded a part of statement of the complainant, ACC Deputy Director Muhammad Mahbubul Alam.
The judge then fixed June 20 for recording the rest of the statement of the complainant in the case.
In the application, Talukder mentioned that Khaleda Zia had earlier filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the order for framing charges against her.
The matter is now pending for hearing. So, the recording of statements should be adjourned until finalisation of the writ petition, Masud added.
Khaleda is now sick and has been receiving treatment at her Gulshan residence after she got out of jail, following an executive order of the government.
Talukder represented her in the court in her absence.
On March 19, the same court framed charges against Khaleda and others.
Four others -- former acting secretary for energy ministry Khondaker Shahidul Islam, its former senior assistant secretary CM Yusuf Hussain, and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's close friend Giausuddin Al Mamun and former Dhaka Club president Selim Bhuiyan -- are now on bail and were present at the court today.
Three others, including former principal secretary to the former prime minister, Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, remain absconding.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case in December 2007, accusing Khaleda and several others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko when she was prime minister between 2001 and 2006.
Three of the accused in the case -- including former state minister for energy and BNP leader AKM Mosharraf Hossain and former law minister Moudud Ahmed-- died earlier. Their names were dropped from the charges of case.
Khaleda Zia, who stands as accused in 33 other cases, was convicted on different terms of punishment in two other cases, including the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.
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