Niko graft case against Khaleda to continue
SC dismisses stay petition
STAFF REPORTER
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday dismissed the leave-to-appeal petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking a stay on the trial proceedings in the Niko corruption case against her. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha came up with the dismissal order that paved the way for the trial court to continue the case proceedings. Advocate Khushid Alam Khan, counsel for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), told reporters that there was no legal bar for the trial court to continue the trial proceedings in the Niko corruption case against Khaleda Zia following the apex court order.
On June 18, 2015, the HC rejected a petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the legality of the Niko graft case against her. The BNP chief filed the leave-to-appeal petition on December 8 of the same year challenging the legality of the HC order.
The ACC on December 9, 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda and four others in connection with a Tk 137.77 loss to the national exchequer caused by the signing of an oil-gas exploration agreement with Niko during the previous BNP regime. Later on May 5, 2008, it submitted chargesheet against 11 people. Khaleda filed the petition with the HC challenging the legality of the case against her. Later on July 9, 2008, the High Court adjourned the proceedings of the case.
