BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will surrender before a Dhaka court today (Monday) in the Niko graft case.
Sanaullah Miah, counselor for the BNP chief, said she would appear before the Special Judge’s Court-9 of Judge Mohammad Aminul Islam at about 11:00 am.
Sanaullah Miah said Khaleda would submit a petition seeking bail in the case. Earlier on June 18, the High Court rejected a petition filed by Khaleda challenging the legality of the Niko graft case against her. An HC bench comprising Justice Md Nuruzzaman and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order. The bench also asked the former prime minister to surrender before the court within two months of receiving the court order.
ACC lawyer M Khurshed Alam Khan told reporters that with rejection of the petition by the HC there remains no legal bar to continuation of trial proceedings in the graft case against Khaleda. On May 28, the bench concluded the hearing on the petition.
The ACC on December 9, 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda and four others in connection with a Tk 137.77 loss of the national exchequer caused by the signing of an oil-gas exploration agreement with the Canadian company Niko during the previous BNP regime.
Later on May 5, 2008, it submitted charge sheet against 11 people. Khaleda filed the petition with the HC challenging the legality of the case against her. Later on July 9, 2008, the High Court adjourned the case proceedings.
