Niko graft case: Court sets Oct 11 for charge framing

A Dhaka court yesterday directed jail authorities to produce BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia before it on October 11 in connection with the Niko graft case.

Judge Md Mahmudul Kabir of the Special Judge Court-9 of Dhaka passed the order and set October 11 for framing charges in the case against all accused.

The judge directed all the accused, including Khaleda and BNP leader Moudud Ahmed, to appear before the court.

The judge passed the order after Khaleda's lawyer Sanaullah Miah submitted a petition seeking a direction on the jail authorities to produce her before the court.

Since her conviction in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, the BNP chief has not been produced before any other court in connection with several other cases, although repeated orders were issued for her to appear.

Khaleda, who stands accused in over 34 cases, was jailed on February 8 after she was found guilty in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Niko graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing Khaleda and 10 others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko during her tenure as the prime minister.