HC stays Niko graft case against Khaleda
STAFF REPORTER
The High Court yesterday stayed the trial proceeding of the Niko corruption case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. In response to a petition filed by Khaleda, a HC bench comprising Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and Justice Md Khashruzzaman passed the order. The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) will move a petition before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for halting the High Court order, Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan, counsel for the ACC, said.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon appeared before the HC on behalf of BNP chief during yesterdays proceedings.
On December 9 in 2007, the ACC filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda Zia and four others in connection with a loss of Tk 137.77 crore loss to the national exchequer caused by the signing of an oil and gas exploration agreement with Niko during BNPs rule from 2001 to 2006.
Former law minister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former acting energy secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam and vice-president (South Asia) of Niko Resources Bangladesh Ltd Kashem Sharif also made accused in the case. On May 5, 2008, the ACC submitted the charge sheet of the case to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court against Khaleda and 10 others.
The High Court on July 9, 2008 stayed the proceedings of the graft case as Khaleda filed a petition challenging the legality of the case against her.
But, the ACC filed an appeal with the apex court against the HC order. However, the Appellate Division later upheld the stay order.
Later, in June 2015, the ACC had filed a petition before the HC to revive the case while the BNP chief filed a petition challenging the legality of the ACC move.
But, the HC had on June 18, 2015, the High Court rejected Khaledas petition questioning the legality of the case and lifted the stay order.
The BNP chief filed the leave-to-appeal petition challenging the legality of the HC order. But, the apex court rejected her petition paving the way for the trial court to resume the case.
On November 30, Judge Mohammad Aminul Islam of Special Judges Court-9 granted bail to Khaleda in the case after she surrendered before his court.
Later, the BNP chief once again filed a fresh petition with the HC seeking a stay order the trial proceedings of the case. After hearing on the petition, the HC yesterday came up with the order.
