The testimony proceedings in the Niko corruption case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and seven others have concluded.
The court has set February 13 as the date for the defendants’ self-defense statements.
On Wednesday, Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-4 heard the final testimony from the investigating officer, former deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Shahedur Rahman.
Following his deposition, the defense lawyers completed their cross-examination.
Subsequently, the court scheduled the self-defense hearing for February 13, as confirmed by Khaleda Zia’s lawyer, Abdul Hannan Bhuiyan.
Out of 68 witnesses, the court recorded testimonies from 39.
The case was originally filed by the ACC on December 9, 2007, at Tejgaon Police Station against Khaleda Zia.
After the investigation, a charge sheet was submitted on May 5, 2008, naming 11 accused individuals.
On March 19 of the previous year, the same court rejected discharge petitions for Khaleda Zia and seven other accused and ordered the framing of charges.
The other defendants include former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, former BAPEX general manager Mir Moynul Haque, Niko's South Asia vice president Kashem Sharif, former acting secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Khandaker Shahidul Islam, former senior assistant secretary CM Yusuf Hossain, businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun and former member of Parliament from Bagerhat, MAH Selim.
Among them, the first three remain fugitives.
