Khaleda Zia, 7 others acquitted in NIKO graft case
Staff Reporter :
A court acquitted BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and seven others in the Niko graft case on Wednesday, as the state failed to prove all the charges against them Judge Robiul Alam of the Special Judge Court-4 in Dhaka delivered the verdict on Wednesday.
Earlier, on February 13, after hearing the defense’s arguments and presentations, the court set today as the date for delivering the verdict.
On this day, the court was scheduled to hear the defense’s closing arguments and final submissions. The accused claimed their innocence during their defense. The principal accused, Khaleda Zia, could not appear in court as she was abroad for medical treatment. Advocate Aminul Islam represented her in court.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) then presented its arguments, seeking the maximum punishment for the accused. Afterward, the defense lawyers presented their closing arguments, requesting the acquittal of the accused, stating that the charges against them had not been proven.
Earlier, on February 5, the testimony of the witnesses in the case had concluded. Out of 68 witnesses, 39 had testified.
On December 9, 2007, then Assistant Director of the ACC, Muhammad Mahbubul Alam, filed a case against Khaleda Zia and four others at Tejgaon Police Station. The case accused them of causing a financial loss of approximately 13,777 crore taka to the state through an opaque contract with the Canadian company Niko.
On May 5, 2018, the court filed a charge sheet against Khaleda Zia and 11 others in this case.
Three of the accused have passed away. Apart from Khaleda Zia, the other seven accused are: 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, C.M. Yusuf Hossain; former General Manager of Bapex, Mir Moinul Haque; businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun; Chairman of International Travel Corporation, Selim Bhuiyan; and Vice President of Niko for South Asia, Kashim Sharif. Of these, Kashim Sharif, Mir Moinul Haque, and Kamal Uddin are still absconding.