The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission Sunday questioned some government officials from different ministries in connection with the Niko graft case filed against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and four others.

Subject to the court's approval, Khaleda Zia, prime accused in the case, is likely to be questioned at the makeshift jail beginning of March.

The anti-graft watchdog filed the case with Tejgaon police station on December 9 last year against Khaleda, detained former Law Minister Barrister Maudud Ahmed, detained former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former acting energy secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, and vice-president (South Aisa) of Niko Research Bangladesh Ltd Kashem Sharif.

They were accused of signing the illegal deal with Niko through corruption that inflicted a loss of Tk 10,000 crore to the State. A separate case was also filed with the same police station on the same day against another detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and six others for alleged corruption in awarding deal to Niko. ACC sources said that one joint secretary and three deputy secretaries from Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Finance, and Petrobangla were questioned today at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha in connection with the case against Khaleda and others.

These officials were summoned a couple of days ago by ACC assistant director and investigating officer Shahidur Rahman to be present at the Commission to give statements in connection with the high-profile case.

According to sources, more officials at different levels who were involved with filing and sending letters would be questioned gradually for selecting witnesses for the case and out of them, if anyone, is found involved with wrongdoing would be identified as accused.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Khaleda, the prime accused, is likely to be questioned at the makeshift jail beginning of March in connection with the case. "Her statement will be taken at the makeshift jail at a later stage of the investigation, likely at the beginning of March," a source close to the investigation told UNB. Two accused of the case - former Law Minister Maudud and former State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf - have already been questioned by the Commission in connection with the case.

Maudud was questioned on January 30 at the Dhaka central jail gate while Mosharraf was quizzed the following day (January 31) at the gate of Kashimpur jail in Gazipur.