In the Niko corruption case, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and seven others have been acquitted by the court. The verdict was delivered by Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4 on Wednesday.
Earlier, on February 13, after hearing the defense’s arguments and submissions, the court had set this day for delivering the judgment. On that day, the defense presented their arguments, claiming the innocence of the accused. The prime accused, Khaleda Zia, could not appear in court due to her medical treatment abroad. Her representative, Advocate Aminul Islam, appeared on her behalf.
Subsequently, the prosecution from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) presented their arguments, demanding the maximum punishment for the accused. The defense lawyers concluded their arguments, requesting acquittal, stating that the charges against the accused were not proven.
Earlier, on February 5, the court concluded the testimony hearing in the case. Out of 68 witnesses, 39 provided testimonies.
Khaleda Zia’s lawyer, Abdul Hannan Bhuiyan, confirmed these details. On March 19 of the previous year, the same court had framed charges against the accused.
The Niko corruption case was filed against Khaleda Zia in 2007 by the ACC. The case was filed by ACC Assistant Director Muhammad Mahbubul Alam at the Tejgaon Police Station in Dhaka. On May 5, 2008, the ACC submitted the charge sheet against Khaleda Zia and 11 others in court.
The other accused in the case are BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed, former State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Kamal Uddin Siddique, former acting Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Khondkar Shahidul Islam, former Senior Assistant Secretary CM Yusuf Hossain, former General Manager of BAPEX Mir Moynul Haque, former Secretary of BAPEX Mohammad Shafiqul Rahman, businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun, Chairman of International Travel Corporation Selim Bhuiyan, and Vice President for South Asia of Niko, Kashim Sharif.
Among them, AKM Mosharraf Hossain and Barrister Moudud Ahmed were exonerated from the case due to the death of Shafiqul Rahman, the former BAPEX secretary.
The ACC’s charge sheet stated that, between 2001 and 2006, while in power, Khaleda Zia and several others misused their authority to illegally grant a Canadian company permission for gas exploration and extraction. The charge sheet claims that the accused caused a financial loss to the state amounting to approximately 13,777 crore Taka.
LND/SAKIB
