Hearing on charge framing against Khaleda, others in Niko graft case deferred

A Special Judges’s Court in Monday deferred to February 17 the hearing on framing charges against Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia and 10 others in a graft case filed during the military-backed caretaker government in 2007 involving a Canadian resources company.
The judge of Special Judge’s Court-9, Md Aminul Islam, deferred the hearing following a time petition filed by Khaleda’s lawyer Taherul Islam Touhid.
Khaleda Zia could not appear before the court due to her illness, the lawyer cited in the time petition.
Earlier on November 30, the BNP chief was granted bail after surrendering to the same court. The court then set today for hearing on charge framing in the case.
On June 18, the High Court rejected Khaleda’s petition questioning the legality of the case and lifted a freeze on the case proceedings.
It also ordered the former prime minister to surrender to the court within two months of receiving the court order.
Khaleda Zia, along with 10 others, including her the then cabinet member Moudud Ahmed, was accused of signing a gas exploration contract with Niko Resources Limited when she was prime minister without following due process, causing Tk 13,777 crore in losses to the government.
The Anti-Corruption Commission had filed the case on December 9, 2007.

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