Dhaka, Feb 12 – The Special Judge Court-9 of Dhaka court on Tues
Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of the special judge court passed the order after hearing the arguments of both sides.
BNP leader Barrister Moudud Ahmed, an accused in the case, appeared at the hearing and challenged the legality of charge-framing in the case.
“There were eight persons who signed opinion of the ministry regarding Niko, which the former Law Ministry submitted for the continuity of the agreement so that the reputation of the country remains unharmed, but only I am facing the trial.
The other seven people are not made accused or witnesses of the case,” Barrister Moudud told the court during the hearing.
Moudud also said, “This case is politically motivated and so the proceedings should be adjourned”.
On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Tejgaon Model Police Station accusing Khaleda Zia and 10 others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko for which the national exchequer suffered a loss of Tk 137.77 billion. Police submitted the charge-sheet against the accused on May 5, 2008.
The other accused persons in the case include Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain and others. – Special Correspondent
