The Supreme Court has scrapped a High Court order that stayed the trial proceedings of Niko graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, clearing the way for continuing trial proceedings in the case.
A three-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order Thursday morning.
The court also discharged a rule issued by the High Court asking the government to explain, in four weeks, why an order passed by a trial court to continue the case proceedings should not be scrapped.
The Anti-Corruption Commission counsel Khurshid Alam Khan said: "There is no bar to continue the trial proceedings in Niko graft case."
On March 7, the High Court stayed the trial proceedings of the case against Khaleda Zia.
Also Read- HC stays Niko graft case proceedings against Khaleda
On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the graft case with Tejgaon police station accusing Khaleda and several others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko during her time in office as prime minister.
The other accused in the case are: former law minister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former acting energy secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, and Kashem Sharif, vice-president (South Asia) of Niko Resources Bangladesh Ltd.
The commission submitted the charge sheet against the accused in May 2008.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
