DHAKA: A court in Dhaka on Wednesday has deferred the indictment hearing in the Niko graft case filed against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and 10 others.

Dhaka special judge-9 Amirul Islam set April 12 as next date in response to time petition filed by lawyer of seven accused, including Khaleda Zia.

Advocate Sanaullah Mia moved for the accused while advocate Mosharraf Hossian Kajal stood for Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).

The BNP chief, however, skipped appearance before the court in the graft case.

Besides, former law minister Barrister Moudud Ahmad, former energy state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddqui, BAPEX former general manager Mir Moynul Haque, former secretary M Shafiur Rahman and NIKO South Asia affairs vice president Kasem Sharif also did not appear before the court.

Detained businessman Gias Al Mamun was produced before court and three other accused appeared before court. 
 
On November 30, the same court granted bail to the BNP chairperson as she surrendered before it in the case.

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

On June 18, 2015, High Court cleared the way for trial proceedings to resume against Khaleda and others in the Niko graft case filed by the ACC in 2007.

On Dec 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 a ruling. The stay order was upheld by the Appellate Division.

BDST: 1630 HRS, Feb 17, 2016
RS