Two more prosecution witnesses on Monday testified against main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia and seven others in a Niko graft case.
Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-9 recorded depositions of the prosecution witnesses, Abdul Baki and AKM Anwarul Islam, in a makeshift courtroom at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.
Of the two, the cross-examination of Anwar was concluded, but Baki鈥檚 cross-examination was not completed on the day. The court set May 14 for the next hearing.
Khaleda鈥檚 lawyer represented her before the court on the day.
On March 19, 2023, Khaleda Zia and seven others were charged with corruption in the case.
The recording of witness depositions started on May 23, last year, with the deposition of ACC deputy director Mahbubul Alam.
The other accused are former energy and mineral resources secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, former senior assistant secretary CM Yusuf Hossain, businessperson Gias Uddin Al Mamun, Selim Bhuiyan, former principal secretary to the prime minister Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, former Bapex general manager Mir Moinul Haque, and Niko vice-president for South Asia Kashem Sharif.
The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case on December 9, 2007, accusing Khaleda Zia, also the former prime minister, and four others of causing a loss of Tk 13,777 crore to the state exchequer by signing an oil and gas exploration agreement with Canadian company Niko Resources Limited during the BNP rule.
The commission on the same day also filed a case accusing Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, now prime minister, and six others of causing Tk 13,630 crore loss to the state exchequer and abusing power while awarding contracts of three 鈥榓bandoned鈥� gas fields in Chhatak, Kamta and Feni to Niko Resources Ltd during the Awami League rule in 1996鈥�2001.
The commission on May 5, 2008, submitted a charge sheet against 11 people, including Khaleda Zia and the seven in the case.
The charge sheet also named BNP standing committee member and former law minister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, and former Bapex secretary Shafiur Rahman.
The court, however, dropped Moudud, Mosharraf, and Shafiur from the trial as they had already died.
The High Court on March 11, 2010, quashed the proceedings in the Niko corruption case against Hasina after she assumed power.
The commission did not appeal against the High Court verdict.
