The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday rejected a petition of detained former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking quashment of Niko graft case against her as her counsel did not press for it.

The petition was heard before a division bench comprising Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Mashuque Hosain Ahmed for four days.

Before passing the order, the counsel for Khaleda prayed for not pressing the case further.

The petition was filed on May 18. During the admissibility hearing, the court observed that since the matter involves facts and evidence, the bench could not act on it.

On the other hand, Khaleda's counsel insisted that the former Prime Minister could not be implicated since she did not approve the deal. Rather, she in her note stated that the contract could be awarded to Niko subject to the prescribed rules and regulations, they said.

Khandaker Mahbub Uddin Ahmed and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mian appeared for Khaleda while the Anti-Corruption Commission was represented by Anisul Huq.

On December 9, 2007, the anti-graft watchdog filed the Niko graft case with Tejgaon police station for allegedly causing huge losses to the national exchequre through signing deals with the Canadian oil company. On the same day, a separate Niko case was filed with the same police station against another detained former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The charge-sheets in both the cases have already been submitted with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court.

The charge-sheet in the case against Khaleda and 10 others, including detained ex-Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, was submitted to the CMM court on May 5.