Indictment hearing in Khaleda's Niko case on Feb 14

A Dhaka court on Monday fixed February 14 to hold a hearing on the Niko graft case against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman passed the order at a temporary courtroom of the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-9 at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.

Appearing on behalf of Khaleda Zia, lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali sought exemption from filing charges against her.

As the hearing did not end Monday, the court was adjourned till the next hearing.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against five perpetrators, including Begum Khaleda Zia with Tejgaon police station on December 9, 2007, for abusing power in signing a deal with Canadian company Niko for exploring and extracting gas.

The ACC on May 5 in 2008 submitted the charge sheet against 11 people including Khaleda Zia. The ACC accused them of incurring a loss of more than Taka 13 thousand crores of state exchequer by that deal.