Dhaka, Mar 23 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Thursday turned down the High Court order that stayed the trial proceedings against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Niko corruption case.A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha passed the order accepting the petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
ACC advocate Khurshid Alam Khan told reporters that following the Supreme Court order, now there is no legal bar to continue the trial proceedings against Khaleda Zia in the graft case.
Earlier on March 7, the HC stayed the trial proceedings against the BNP chief in the case following a petition seeking a stay on its trial proceeding.
The court also issued a rule asking the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why the trial proceedings against the BNP chief should not be scrapped.
The ACC filed the case on December 9, 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.
Later on May 5, 2008, it submitted charge sheet against 11 people. – UNB
