DHAKA: The High Court (HC) on Tuesday (March 07) has stayed the trial proceedings against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Niko graft case.

An HC bench comprising Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and Justice Mohammad Khasruzzaman passed the order following a petition filed by the BNP chief seeking a stay of the trial proceedings of the case.

Barrister Moudud Ahmed and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon took part in the hearing on behalf of Khaleda Zia, while Khurshid Alam Khan moved for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).  

Moudud Ahmed, former law minister of the Khaleda Zia’s government is also an accused in the case. 

Earlier on December 1 in 2016, the High Court issued a rule following a petition filed by Barrister Moudud Ahmed and the court stayed trial proceedings about the BNP leader for eight weeks.   

On December 9 of 2007, ACC filed a lawsuit with Tejgaon police station against Khaleda Zia and a few members of the cabinet of the BNP-led government of 2001-2006 tenure accusing them for incurring loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the state exchequer by signing oil-gas exploration agreements with Canadian company Niko.

The ACC framed charges in the case in May in 2008. 

Khaleda Zia filed a plea challenging the legality of the case. The High Court on July 15, 2008 stayed proceedings of the graft case for two months and issued a ruling. The stay order was upheld by the Appellate Division.

On June 18 last year, the HC cleared the way for the trial proceedings to resume.

BDST: 1748 HRS, MAR 07, 2017
EHJ/AP/SMS