Niko graft indictment hearing Tuesday

Send
Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 12:17, Mar 19, 2019 | Updated : 12:18, Mar 19, 2019

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia. FOCUS BANGLA/File PhotoIndictment hearing in the Niko graft case against BNP chief Khaleda Zia and ten others is scheduled on Tuesday (Mar 19).
The hearing will be held at the temporary court set up inside the old jailhouse in Dhaka and Special Judge-9 Sheikh Hafizur Rahman will hear the arguments from prosecution and defence.
On Mar 3, the court framed charge against senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmed, an accused in the case.
On Dec 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), filed a graft case with Tejgaon police, accusing Khaleda Zia and 10 others of abusing power by awarding a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko, during her time in office as prime minister.
The commission submitted the charge sheet against the accused on May 5, 2008 with 11 people standing accused of causing the state a loss of Tk 137.77 billion through a non-transparent and corrupt contract with Niko during the BNP regime.
Others accused in the case are former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former acting energy secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, chief secretary of the then prime minister, former senior assistant secretary CM Yousuf Hossain, former general manager of BAPEX Mir Moinul Haque, former secretary Shafiur Rahman Gias Uddin Al Mamun, former Bagerhat MP MAH Selim and Kashem Sharif, vice-president (South Asia) of Niko Resources Bangladesh Ltd.
A three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is already serving a 10 year time for her involvement in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

/th/pdn/hm/
Top