A special court in Dhaka has sent BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to prison following the hearing of the Niko graft case on Thursday (Nov 8).
The next date of the hearing has been set on Wednesday (Nov 14).
Early on Thursday, the former prime minister was released from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMU) where she was undergoing treatment and taken to a makeshift court in the old jailhouse premises amidst heavy security for a court appearance.

BSMMU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Kanti Barua, told Bangla Tribune that the medical board released Khaleda after being satisfied with her physical condition.

Khaleda is a key suspect in the graft case that was filed by graft watchdog Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) with Tejgaon police in 2007.

According to the case documents, she has been accused along with 11 others for abusing her power as prime minister to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko.

Khaleda and the 11 others stand accused of causing the State a loss of Tk 137.77 billion in a non-transparent, corrupted contract with Niko during the BNP regime.

A three time prime minister Khaleda is already serving time for her involvement in the in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. The Supreme Court granted the State’s appeal in this case and changed her jail term from five years to 10 years.