HC stays Khaleda’s Niko graft case

High Court has stayed the proceedings of the Niko graft case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday.

The bench of justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and justice Khasruzzaman passed the order following a hearing on the case.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Mahbub Uddin Khokon stood for the BNP chairperson while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan for the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).

The ACC on 9 December 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda, also a former prime minister, and four others, alleging that the signing of an oil-gas exploration agreement with the Canadian company Niko during the previous BNP regime caused a loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the national exchequer.

Later on 5 May 2008 it submitted charge sheets against 11 people.

The High Court had adjourned the case proceedings on 9 July 2008.

Source: Prothom Alo