The Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-9 on Monday upheld bail to Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Niko graft case till its next hearing on December 28.
Judge Mohammad Aminul Islam passed the order after a 10-minute hearing around noon after the BNP chief surrendered before the court as per the High Court’s order and sought bail in the case.
Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Mosharaf Hossain Kajal opposed granting her bail saying she should not be given bail since she had caused loss of a huge amount of public money despite taking oath to protect them.
Earlier on June 18, the High Court rejected a petition filed by Khaleda challenging the legality of the Niko graft case against her.
An HC bench comprising Justice Md Nuruzzaman and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order.
The bench also asked the former prime minister to surrender before the court within two months of receiving the court order.
ACC lawyer M Khurshed Alam Khan told reporters that with rejection of the petition by the HC there remains no legal bar to continuation of trial proceedings in the graft case against Khaleda.
On May 28, the bench concluded the hearing on the petition.
The ACC on December 9, 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda and four others in connection with a Tk 137billion loss of the national exchequer caused by the signing of an oil-gas exploration agreement with the Canadian company Niko during the previous BNP regime.
Later on May 5, 2008, it submitted charge sheet against 11 people.
Khaleda filed the petition with the HC challenging the legality of the case against her.
Later on July 9, 2008, the High Court adjourned the case proceedings.
Source: New Age
