DHAKA: BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia appeal against High Court (HC) order that cleared the way to continue the trial proceedings in Niko graft case at trial court.

Khaleda’s lawyer Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon said the appeal has been filed before the appellate division to the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday (December 7).

After the HC order on case revival, the trial proceedings of Niko graft case has resumed at the court of Dhaka Special Judge-9 Amirul Islam.

On November 30, a court in Dhaka granted bail to Khaleda Zia as she surrendered before it in Niko graft case on Monday following the HC order.

The court also set December 28 as the date for framing charge in the case and asked Khaleda Zia to appear before it on that day.

Earlier, the BNP chief surrendered before the trial court around 12:15pm and sought bail in the Niko graft case.

On June 18, the HC rejected a petition filed by the BNP chairperson challenging the legality of Niko graft case, clearing the way for continuing the trial proceedings.

On April 22, the HC started a hearing on a seven-year-old writ petition challenging the legality of Niko corruption case filed against Khaleda Zia.

On December 9, 2007, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against five people, including Khaleda, accusing them of causing loss of Tk 13,777-crore to the state exchequer by signing oil-gas exploration agreements with Niko.

Later on May 5, 2008, it submitted charges against 11 persons.
 
The HC on July 9, 2008 stayed proceedings of the graft case and issued a ruling. The stay order was upheld by the Appellate Division.

BDST: 1619 HRS, DEC 07, 2015
RS/RR