Niko case to proceed with or without Khaleda, court says

Khaleda Zia with her personal physician Dr. Zahidul Haque and others.

The Special Judge Court-9 of Dhaka today told BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s lawyers that the hearing of the charge framing in the Niko graft case would proceed with or without their participation on the next scheduled date.

Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of the court said this when the defense counsel submitted a petition on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia seeking adjournment of the hearing because they said they would not take part in the hearing unless prosecutors supplied them certified copies of documents seized during investigation into the case.

At one stage, the prosecution and defense got involved in argument over the matter.

On February 26, Khaleda Zia’s lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder submitted an application, seeking certified copies of documents. Following the application, the prosecution supplied them with photocopies.

The defense today again submitted another petition for certified copies and said they would not take part in the hearing without those documents.

Opposing the petition, ACC Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol told the court that they had earlier supplied photocopies of all documents to the defence but the defense submitted petitions seeking time on different excuses in the last four years just to delay the process.

Upon hearing both the sides, the court asked the defense that they took time on several dates on different excuses and further time would not be given.

The court further said it will give order on charge framing against Khaleda Zia and others if they do not take part in hearing on March 9, the next scheduled date.

Earlier, senior lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali placed submissions on behalf of Khaleda Zia but he could not complete the process citing lack of some documents seized by the Investigation Officer of the case.

Begum Khaleda Zia, who is now free following an executive order from the government, is still ailing. She was earlier admitted to Ever Care Hospital with heart problem and later released from there. She is currently taking treatment at her Gulshan residence.

Khaleda Zia’s personal appearance at the court was earlier exempted and Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder represented her in her absence.

Among the accused, Giausuddin Al Mamun is now in the prison while six thers are on bail.

Another accused, Kashem Sharif, former President of Niko Resources (Bangladesh) Limited, is on the run.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Mamun was produced before the makeshift court of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case in December 2007, accusing Khaleda Zia and several others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko when she was the Prime Minister of the country between 2001 and 2006.

Two of the accused in the case- former State Minister for Energy and BNP  leader AKM Mosharraf Hossain and former Law Minister Moudud Ahmed died earlier. - Special Correspondent