A Dhaka court on Thursday fixed January 13 for the hearing on charge framing in the Niko graft case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and ten others.
Newly appointed Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of the Dhaka Special Judge Court 9 which was set up inside the old Dhaka central jail fixed the date after a partial hearing on the charge framing in the case.
Khaleda Zia was produced before the court in a wheelchair at 12:10pm at the hearing. She said the trial in the case should not continue inside the Old Central Jail as it lacks adequate air and light.
She asked why the trail was being held in a makeshift court and why the hurry in the quick disposal of the case.
“There are many other sensitive and important cases that are not disposed of quickly,” she said.
She told the judge: “If there is a case here, I will not come to the court again. My counsels are not allowed to enter through the court gate and are sent back.”
“If you sentenced me, then I will not come to this court,” she added.
The hearing on charge framing against Barrister Moudud Ahmed also took place, where Moudud represented himself before the court.
On November 7, last year the Law Ministry issued a gazette notification saying that the trial of Khaleda Zia and others accused in the Niko corruption case will be held at the makeshift court in Old Dhaka central jail.
The ministry issued the gazette notification transferring the court citing security reasons.
The ACC on December 9, 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda and four others in connection with a loss of Tk137.77 billion to the national exchequer caused by the signing of an oil-gas exploration agreement with Canadian company Niko during the BNP regime.
Police submitted a charge sheet against the accused on May 5, 2008.
The other accused are Moudud Ahmed, former law minister, AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former state minister for energy, Kamal Uddin Siddique, former principal secretary to prime minister, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, former acting energy secretary, CM Yousuf Hossain, former senior assistant secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Department, Meer Moynul Haque, former senior general manager of Bapex, Shafiur Rahman, former secretary of Bapex, Giasuddin Al Mamun, managing director of One Group, Selim Bhuiyan, chairman and managing director of International Travel Corporation, and Kashem Sharif, vice-president (South Asia) of Niko Resources Bangladesh Ltd.
Khaleda stays mum on the election
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia declined to comment on the latest general election saying: "No comment," when reporters asked her about the December 30 polls after a Niko corruption case hearing.
The Awami League-led Grand Alliance won 96% of the seats in the 300-member parliament. Khaleda Zia's BNP joined hands with Jatiya Oikya Front to contest the election but they won in only seven constituencies.
The former prime minister even threatened to avoid court appearances "if this situation prevails."
The judge eventually ordered court authorities to provide adequate seating arrangements for everyone.