The court has acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia along with seven others in the Niko graft case. On Wednesday, Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-4 delivered the verdict. Khaleda Zia's lawyer, Abdul Hannan Bhuiyan, confirmed this the matter to the media.
Earlier, on February 13, after the defense presented their arguments and self-defense statements, the court set Wednesday as the date for delivering the verdict.
On that day, the defendants were given the opportunity to present their self-defense statements and arguments. The defendants claimed their innocence in their self-defense statements.
The main defendant, Khaleda Zia, was unable to appear in court due to medical treatment abroad. Advocate Aminul Islam appeared on her behalf.
Afterward, the prosecution from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) presented their arguments, seeking the maximum punishment for the defendants.
The defense lawyers then concluded their arguments, stating that the charges against the defendants had not been proven, and requested their acquittal.
Previously, on February 5, the testimony in the case had concluded. Of the 68 witnesses in the case, 39 have testified. On March 19 of the previous year, the same court framed charges against the defendants in the case.
The Niko graft case was filed against Khaleda Zia in 2007 by the ACC. ACC Assistant Director Mohammad Mahbubul Alam filed the case at Tejgaon Police Station in the capital.
On May 5, 2008, the ACC submitted the charge sheet in court, accusing Khaleda Zia and 11 others.
The other accused in the case are BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed, former State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, former Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Khondkar Shahidul Islam, former Senior Assistant Secretary CM Yusuf Hossain, former General Manager of Bapex Mir Maynul Haque, former Secretary of Bapex Md. Shafiur Rahman, businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, Chairman of International Travel Corporation Selim Bhuiyan, and Niko's Vice President for South Asia Kashim Sharif.
Among them, AKM Mosharraf Hossain and Barrister Moudud Ahmed, as well as former Secretary of Bapex Md. Shafiur Rahman, have been exempted from the case due to their deaths.
The charge sheet by the ACC states that during the period between 2001 and 2006, while in power, Khaleda Zia and several others misused their authority to grant a Canadian company the illegal privilege of gas exploration and extraction.
The charge sheet accuses the defendants of causing a financial loss of nearly 13,777 crore Taka to the state.
