The New Nation - Internet Edition

Court Correspondent

Charge sheet was submitted yesterday against former prime Minister Khaleda Zia, former law minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister for energy A K M Mosharraf Hossain, former Secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, Niko South Asia former Vice Chairman Kashem Sharif, former Principal Secretary of Prime Minister's Office Dr Kamaludin Siddiqui and five others in the Niko graft case.

Other five accused are : former senior GM, Petro-Bangla Meer Mainul Haque, former Secretary Shafiur Rahman, Petro-Bangla's former Senior Asstt. Secretary C M Yusuf Hossain, businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun and former Dhaka Club Limited President Selim Bhuiyan.

Sixty-eight persons were made witness in the case while 14 items were included in the seizure list. Anti-Corruption Commission Asstt. Director, Md Mahbubul Alam filed the case and SM Shahidur Rahman, another Asstt Director of ACC was made the Investigation Officer.

The accused allegedly through conspiracy caused loss of Taka 13,777 crore to the national exchequer giving Canadian Niko company 3 gas fields including a very rich one without floating tender. In the First Information Report five persons were made accused and 6 more accused were included in the charge sheet.

The prosecutor said the accused had entered into a deal with Canada-based oil & gas company NIKO accruing financial benefits that inflicted loss to the nation to the tune of Tk 13,777 crore.

ACC filed two cases against the two former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina and their associates with Kafrul thana on December 9 last year accusing them of entering into separate deals during their rule with NIKO inflicting heavy losses to the country.

Court sources said charge sheet in the other case against Sheikh Hasina and her associates is likely to be submitted today.

The prosecutor of the case against Khaleda and her associates submitted a list of 68 witnesses to probe the charge.

Of the 11 accused, six including Khaleda are in custody while six others remained fugitive. Others in custody are former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, businessmen Giasuddin Al Mamun and Selim Bhuiyan.

Those remained absconding are Kashem Sharif of Niko Resources Bangladesh Limited, former Principal Secretary to PM Dr Kamal Siddiqui, Petro Bangla director CM Yusuf Hussain, former BAPEX senior general manager Meer Moinul Haque and former BAPEX Secretary Shafiur Rahman.

Meanwhile the judgement of extortion case filed against former state minister Amanullah Aman was not pronounced yesterday. Hosne Ara Begum, Judge in-charge adjourned the proceedings of the case till 7 May when Judge Mohammad Altaf Hosain, 6th Additional District and Session Judge of Dhaka will come back. He was on leave became he was ill yesterday.

Meanwhile Md Abu Sufian, accused in the Bashundhara Group Director Sabbir Ahmed murder case, was put on a 3-day remand in Badda Thana's sensational Manik Chandra Murder case. Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shahin Uddin passed the order in presence of the accused. IO of the case Badda Thana's SI Sohrab Hossain sought a 7-day remand to quiz the accused.