The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

A special judge's Court yesterday set June 18 for charge hearing to indict detained former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and others in the Niko scam case.

Judge Khandaker Kamaluzzaman fixed the date after hearing of a petition filed by defence Counsels seeking adjournment of the hearing till completion of the other Niko graft case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others.

The petition said Hasina while in power in 1997 approved the proposal of Canadian oil giant Niko Resources Ltd for exploration of gas. Later, Begum Zia's government only maintained the continuation of the previous government's decision.

"Two separate cases were lodged centring the similar issue. So, we prayed for keeping the hearing adjourned till end of the first case lodged against Hasina and others following the relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code," Khaleda's Counsel Advocate Khandaker Delwar Hossain told reporters.

Tight security was enforced around the makeshift court in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area as Begum Zia was brought to the court from the nearby sub-jail.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against Begum Zia and 10 others including several ministers of her BNP- led four-party government for contracting out several gas fields to Niko Resources Ltd through corruption causing loss of Taka 13,777 crore to the state.

Former minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former secretary Khandker Shahidul Islam, former BAPEX general manager Mir Moinul Haque, former Dhaka Club president Salim Bhuiyan, former BAPEX secretary Shafiur Rahman and Tarique Rahman's business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun, also accused in the case, were produced before the court from the jail.

Three others accused in the case - former principal secretary of PMO Dr Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, former Petrobangla director Yousuf Hossain and Niko's South Asian vice-president Kasem Sharif were absconding.