The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Investigation into the Niko case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission against Khaleda Zia is at the final stage and the investigation officer is going to submit his report to the Commission soon.

But the investigation into Sheikh Hasina's Niko case is still at the stage of seizing files and documents, although the two cases against the two ex-premiers were filed by the Commission on the same day, according to concerned sources.

However, the sources said, the investigation into the case against Hasina began later than that of Khaleda's. The investigation against Khaleda began on December 13 while that into Hasina's case on December 26. The investigation officers (IOs) have 60 working days to submit their reports.

According to the sources, Sahidur Rahman, the investigation officer of the case against Khaleda, has almost completed his task and is going to submit the memo of evidence (investigation report) to the Commission soon.

At the final stage of his investigation, Khaleda, the prime accused, was questioned on Thursday at the makeshift jail. Prior to that, a number of people, including the two ex-ministers, were grilled in connection with the case along with seizure of documents and sport visits.

During the investigation, two more persons - businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun and ex-Dhaka Club president Selim Bhuiyan - were shown arrested in the case. Law Ministry joint secretary Noren Das, who confessed to accepting a laptop computer from Niko in bribe, is likely to be one of the accused in the case.

It is expected that the investigating officer would submit his report recommending the submission of charge sheet against eight persons, including the five charged initially.

On the other hand, Shabbir Hasan, the IO of Hasina's Niko case, is now seizing files and documents relating to the case followed by recording the statements of the accused and witnesses.

The IO of Hasina's case, however, does have the advantage of having the files and documents seized by the IO of Khaleda's case. Following an application from Shabbir, the Commission on Feb 26 gave the go ahead to use the documents of Khaleda's case in the other case.

Separate cases were filed on December 9 with Tejgaon police station against Khaleda Zia, Hasina and eight others accusing them of entering into deals with Niko that inflicted an enormous loss to the state.

ACC assistant director Mahbubul Alam filed the case against Khaleda, former ministers Barrister Moudud Ahmed, AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam and vice-president (South Asian Affairs) Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited Kashem Sharif.

They were accused of signing the illegal deal with Niko through corruption that inflicted a loss of Tk 10,000 crore to State.

ACC deputy director Shabbir Hasan filed another case against Hasina, former state minister for Power and Energy Rafiqul islam, former principal secretary Dr SA Samad, former Power and Energy secretary Dr Tawfiq E Elahi Chowdhury, former Petro Bangla chairman Dr Mosharraf Hossain and Kashem Sharif of Niko.

They were accused of signing the corrupt and illegal deal with Niko that inflicted a loss of Tk 13630.50 crore to the national exchequer.