UNB, Dhaka: The High Court is set to deliver its verdict on Thursday on a writ petition filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the legality of the Niko graft case against her after closing arguments in the trial of the case. An HC bench comprising Justice Md Nuruzzaman Noni and Justice Zafar Ahmed fixed the date of the judgement. Khaleda’s lawyer Barrister Ragib Rouf said the High Court has kept pending its verdict to be delivered any day after closing arguments in the trial of the writ petition. Earlier on May 28, the same bench concluded the final hearing on the writ petition filed by Khaleda challenging the legality of the graft case. 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 Niko during the previous BNP regime. Later on May 5, 2008, it submitted charges against 11 people. Khaleda filed a petition with the HC challenging the legality of the case against her. Later on July 9,2008, the High Court adjourned the proceedings of the case. The court also issued a rule asking to know why the proceedings of the case should not be declared illegal.
