Staff Reporter :
A Dhaka Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing of Niko case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and others until January 3 next year.
Judge Md Mahmudul Kabir of the Special Judge Court-9 passed the order after Khaleda’s lawyer filed a petition seeking adjournment.
During hearing, Khaleda, on a wheelchair, told the makeshift court inside the Old Central Jail that, the case was filed to harass her politically.
She sought adjournment in consideration of the elections.
The BNP Chief was moved to old Dhaka Central Jail on November 8 on the day she was set to appear in the graft trial of Niko case.
On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Niko graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing Khaleda and 10 others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko during her tenure as the Prime Minister.
On November 7, the Law Ministry issued a gazette notification ensuring the trial of Khaleda and others accused in the Niko corruption case to be held at a makeshift court in Old Dhaka Central Jail. The Ministry issued the gazette notification transferring the court citing security reasons.
Khaleda landed in the old Central Jail on February 8 after a Special Court sentenced her to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case.
The High Court on October 30 enhanced the punishment to 10 years imprisonment in the case.
Besides, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was also convicted in Zia Charitable Trust case and sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment by a special court on October 29.
A Dhaka Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing of Niko case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and others until January 3 next year.
Judge Md Mahmudul Kabir of the Special Judge Court-9 passed the order after Khaleda’s lawyer filed a petition seeking adjournment.
During hearing, Khaleda, on a wheelchair, told the makeshift court inside the Old Central Jail that, the case was filed to harass her politically.
She sought adjournment in consideration of the elections.
The BNP Chief was moved to old Dhaka Central Jail on November 8 on the day she was set to appear in the graft trial of Niko case.
On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Niko graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing Khaleda and 10 others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko during her tenure as the Prime Minister.
On November 7, the Law Ministry issued a gazette notification ensuring the trial of Khaleda and others accused in the Niko corruption case to be held at a makeshift court in Old Dhaka Central Jail. The Ministry issued the gazette notification transferring the court citing security reasons.
Khaleda landed in the old Central Jail on February 8 after a Special Court sentenced her to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust case.
The High Court on October 30 enhanced the punishment to 10 years imprisonment in the case.
Besides, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was also convicted in Zia Charitable Trust case and sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment by a special court on October 29.
