HC okays trial against Khaleda in Niko case

Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Wednesday cleared the way for lower court concerned to continue the trial proceedings against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Niko corruption case.

The High Court summarily rejected a petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, challenging a lower court order that framed charges against her and seven others in the Niko corruption case.

The High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Aminul Islam passed the order after hearing the petition.

Khaldeda Zia is not getting justice in the court, said her lawyer Barrister Kayser Kamal after the High Court order.

On March 19, this year, Judge of the Special Judge’s Court-9 in Dhaka, Sheikh Md Hafizur Rahman, framed charges against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and seven others in the Niko graft case.

On May 17, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia filed a revision petition with the High Court through her lawyer Barrister Kayser Kamal seeking repeal of the charge framing order in the case.

The High Court started hearing on the petition on August 9. After concluding the hearing on August 28 the HC fixed August 30 for passing order on it. Accordingly the court announced its order on Wednesday.

Advocate A J Mohammad Ali and Barrister Kayser Kamal appeared in the court hearing on behalf of BNP Chairperson, while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Attorney General AM Amin Uddin appeared for the state.