Dhaka, March 11 – The Special Judge Court-9 of Dhaka yesterday deferred the date of the charge hearing in the Niko graft case filed against 11 persons including BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to April 19.Judge Mahmudul Kabir of the makeshift court set up in Bakshibazar of the old city fixed the new date. Earlier, advocate Sanaullah Mia sought time on behalf of Khaleda Zia as she is the prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. Besides, advocates of accused Moudud Ahmed and Shafiur Rahman also sought time in the case.
Earlier on March 23, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court cleared the war for the lower court to resume the trial proceedings of the graft case against Khaleda Zia.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case in December 2007, accusing Khaleda Zia and 10 others, including Moudud Ahmed, of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to a Canadian company Niko when she was the Prime Minister between 2001 and 2006.
The ACC submitted the charge sheet of the case against Khaleda Zia and others in May2008. Two months later the High Court stayed the proceedings of the case.
Former State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former Acting Energy Secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam and Vice-President (South Asia) of Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem Sharif are also accused in the case. – Special Correspondent
