DHAKA: The proceedings of Niko graft case filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) against BNP chairperson Khaleda and others will run in the trial court.
The High Court on Thursday gave the order dissolving a long-pending rule in the case.
The HC bench comprising Justice M Nuruzzaman and Justice Jafar Ahmed also rejected the petition of Khaleda Zia seeking cancelation of Niko case.
ACC laywer M Khurshid Alam Khan said following the order, there is no bar to continue the trial proceedings in the case.
Earlier on May 28, after hearing the arguments from both the sides, the court, said, “Hearing concluded in the case; judgment CAV”. CAV (Curia Advisari Vult) is a Latin legal term which means the court wishes to be advised (judgment is reserved).
On the day, lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali and Barrister Badruduza Badal placed their arguments on behalf of Khaleda Zia while on behalf of M Khurshid Alam Khan concluded placing his argument on Thursday.
In the hearing, we sought court order to continue the case proceedings in the trial court, M Khurshid Alam Khan told reporters.
Khaleda’s lawyer Ragib Ahmed Chowdhury said the court kept the judgment CAV. “We will file a supplementary petition”.
On April 22, the High Court started a hearing on a seven-year-old writ petition challenging the legality of Niko corruption case filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.
On April 7, Chief Justice SK Sinha assigned the bench to deal with Niko, Gatco and Barapukura coalmine graft cases.
The verdict on rule hearing in the Barapukura coalmine graft case was set to be delivered on April 5.
On April 2, Khaleda submitted four petitions to the chief justice through her lawyers, seeking transfer of the cases to another bench.
Later, respective bench sent the cases to the chief justice for a decision.
Of the cases, the hearing on the rule of Barapukuria coalmine graft case was ended. The High Court had fixed April 5 to pronounce its order whether it will withdraw the stay order on proceedings of Barapukuria Coalmine graft case against Khaleda Zia.
On the other hand, the hearing on rule of Boropukuria Coalmine and Gatco graft cases is going on at the same bench. The rule hearing on Gatco graft cases will be held on May 31
On December 9, 2007, ACC filed the case against five people, including Khaleda, accusing them of causing loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the state exchequer by signing oil-gas exploration agreements with Niko.
Later on May 5, 2008, it submitted charges against 11 persons.
The High Court on July 9, 2008 stayed proceedings of the graft case and issued the rule asking the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why the Niko graft case filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and others should not be quashed.
The stay order was upheld by the Appellate Division.
BDST: 1358 HRS, JUN 18, 2015
RS/SMS
