The charge framing hearing against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Niko corruption case will take place within the month.
Judge Mahmudul Kabir of Special Judge Court 9 fixed September 3 as the hearing date on Wednesday, accepting time petitions of Khaleda and Moudud Ahmed.
The court refused Moudud’s application for some documents. Moudud sought time saying he would move the High Court against the order.
On the other hand, Khaleda’s lawyer Sanaullah Mia informed the court that his client is in jail. He too requested to defer the indictment hearing.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the graft case with Tejgaon police on December 9, 2007. It pressed charges against Khaleda and 10 others on May 5, 2008.
Others accused in the case include 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.
Khaleda and others were accused of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko during her tenure as prime minister. The move cost the state nearly Tk13,777 crore, the ACC said.
