Khaleda appeals HC order in Niko graft case

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday filed an appeal with the Supreme Court challenging a High Court verdict that cleared the way for trial proceedings to resume against her and others in the Niko graft case filed by the ACC in 2007.
Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, one of the counsels for Khaleda, filed the appeal with the related branch of the apex court for scrapping the HC judgment and trial proceedings in
the case.
Later, he told reporters that the apex court will fix a date for holding hearing on the appeal latter on. In a verdict, the High Court on June 18 rejected a petition filed by Khaleda challenging the legality of the trial proceeding of the case.
The HC also ordered the BNP chief to surrender before the trial court within two months after its verdict reaches the trial court. The court also directed the trial court to consider Khaleda’s bail petition, on condition that she did not misuse the bail.
The BNP chief has surrendered before a Dhaka court in complying with the HC order and secured bail in the case.
The court also fixed December 28 for charge framing hearing against the BNP chief and 10 others accused in the case.
The then Anti-Corruption Commission on December 9, 2007, the commission had filed two cases against Hasina and Khaleda for alleged corruption in signing contracts with Canadian oil company Niko Resources Ltd by showing a productive gas-field as “marginal”, causing the state to incur a loss of Tk. 23,630.5 crore. Three former ministers, five retired bureaucrats and a Niko official were named as accused.

 

 

Khaleda appeals HC order in Niko graft case

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday filed an appeal with the Supreme Court challenging a High Court verdict that cleared the way for trial proceedings to resume against her and others in the Niko graft case filed by the ACC in 2007. Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, one of the counsels for Khaleda, filed the appeal with the related branch of the apex court for scrapping the HC judgment and trial proceedings in the case. Later, he told reporters that the apex court will fix a date for holding hearing on the appeal latter on. In a verdict, the High Court on June 18 rejected a petition filed by Khaleda challenging the legality of the trial proceeding of the case. The HC also ordered the BNP chief to surrender before the trial court within two months after its verdict reaches the trial court. The court also directed the trial court to consider Khaledas bail petition, on condition that she did not misuse the bail. The BNP chief has surrendered before a Dhaka court in complying with the HC order and secured bail in the case. The court also fixed December 28 for charge framing hearing against the BNP chief and 10 others accused in the case. The then Anti-Corruption Commission on December 9, 2007, the commission had filed two cases against Hasina and Khaleda for alleged corruption in signing contracts with Canadian oil company Niko Resources Ltd by showing a productive gas-field as marginal, causing the state to incur a loss of Tk. 23,630.5 crore. Three former ministers, five retired bureaucrats and a Niko official were named as accused.