Attorney General Mahbubey Alam’s remarks on BNP chief Khaleda Zia while the Niko graft trial is still ongoing, is illegal and politically motivated, said BNP Joint Secretary General, Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon.
“The AG’s comments are meant to influence the case although according to the Anti Corruption Commission’s (ACC) laws, their own lawyers are supposed to handle the proceedings,” he told the media at his office on Friday (Nov 23).
On Thursday (Nov 22), the government’s top lawyer said that the FBI and Canadian police have found evidence of bribery in the Niko graft case.
According to the AG, the Canadian Royal Mounted Police (CRMP) launched an investigation in 2005 and traced a money trail from Naiko to then government officials through an offshore account in the Cayman Islands.
The investigation reports accused BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Barrister Moudud Ahmed and nine others who are currently undergoing trial.
The AG also clarified that that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s name was not in the reports because the whole exploitation started in 2002, approximately a year after Khaleda took office.
Rebuffing the AG’s claims, Khokon said that the Niko deal was signed when Hasina was in office.
Khaleda only approved the file in keeping with that deal and the AG’s comments as well as the FBI and Canadian police investigation is one-sided, he added.
On the AG’s comment that he will try to get Canadian police and FBI officials to testify, Khokon said, “Their names are not in the witness list. It’s against the law.”
He complained that this was a move to tarnish Khaleda’s public image ahead of the polls which is slated for Dec 30.
According to Mahbubey Alam, Canadian registered company, Niko, had been trying to take lease of some gas fields and resorted to dishonest means, influenced several key members of the BNP regime and took Chhatak gas field, which was shown as abandoned though it was a virgin field filled with gas.
In 2007, ACC director, Mohammad Mahbubul Alam, lodged a case against Khaleda Zia and four others for causing huge financial damage to the country through the dubious deal with Niko.
A charge sheet was submitted on May 5, 2008 against 11 persons including Khaleda Zia which accused them of incurring the State a loss of Tk 137.77 billion. The case is ongoing at special court -9.