Khaleda found innocent in Niko corruption case

Staff Reporter :

In a significant ruling, the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 has acquitted BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and seven others of all charges in the Niko corruption case, stating that she was implicated solely to tarnish her reputation for political reasons.

The judgment, delivered by Judge Rabiul Alam on 19 February, was made public today in a 133-page full text.

The court emphasised that the Niko deal was signed during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, noting that the case against Khaleda Zia had been prolonged for 18 years due to political motivations.

The court’s observations pointed out that the agreement
with Niko, signed on 23 August 1999, under the Framework of Understanding (FOU) between Bapex and Niko Resources Bangladesh Ltd.

occurred under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Despite the accusations, the court found no evidence of malfeasance or criminal conduct by Khaleda Zia or the other defendants in the execution of the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA). It concluded that there was no corruption or abuse of power involved.

The court also criticised the treatment of one of the accused, Selim Bhuiyan, who was reportedly subjected to physical and mental torture during a remand period.

Bhuiyan, who had been detained at several police stations, fell ill and was hospitalised. The court dismissed the confessions obtained from him under duress, ruling them as false and coerced.

The acquitted individuals, in addition to Khaleda Zia, include prominent figures such as Kamal Uddin Siddiqui (former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister), Khandaker Shahidul Islam (former Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Energy), CM Yusuf Hossain (former Senior Assistant Secretary), Mir Mainul Haque (former GM of Bapex), Gias Uddin Al Mamun (businessman), Selim Bhuiyan (Chairman of International Travel Corporation), and Kashem Sharif (Vice President, South Asia Affairs of Niko).

The case, originally filed on 9 December 2007 by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Khaleda Zia and five others, accused them of causing a financial loss to the state through the Niko deal.

The charge sheet, filed on 5 May 2018, claimed the loss amounted to approximately Taka 13,777 crore. However, the case was plagued by delays and political overtones.

During the trial, 39 out of 68 witnesses testified, but prominent political figures, including BNP Standing Committee Member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, and former Bapex Secretary Md. Shafiur Rahman, were removed from the case due to their deaths.

This ruling marks a significant chapter in the long-running legal saga surrounding Khaleda Zia, reinforcing the claim that she was targeted for political reasons rather than any genuine corruption.