DHAKA: A Dhaka court on Wednesday (Nov 8) deferred the hearing in Niko corruption case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia till January 3.

Judge Mahmudul Kabir of Special Judge’s Court-9 set up at Old Central Jail passed the order following a petition file by the accused.

Apart from BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Former secretaries Md Shafiur Rahman, Khondker Shahidul Islam, CM Yusuf Hossain and Former President of Dhaka Club Selim Bhuiyan are among the prime accused of the case. 

Khaleda Zia was produced before court today while lawyers Moudud Ahmed and Sanaullah Mia took part in hearing on behalf of her. Lawyer Mosharraf Hossain move for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is serving her 10 years extended jail sentence in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case since February 8. A makeshift court was later set up in the central jail to continue her trial in other cases as she could not appear before court over illness.

In December 2007, the ACC filed the case accusing the 11 people over misusing power to grant a gas deal to Canadian company Niko when Khaleda was the prime minister of Bangladesh between 2001 and 2006.

BDST: 1545 HRS, NOV 14, 2018
AP/SMS