Verdict in Khaleda Zia’s Niko corruption case at noon

The verdict in the Niko corruption case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and eight others is scheduled for Wednesday. Court sources said the verdict could be announced by noon today.

Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court No. 4 will announce the verdict.

The date for the verdict was set after the defendants’ defense and presentation of arguments last Thursday.

The other defendants in the case are the then Chief Secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, former Bapex General Manager Mir Moinul Haque, Niko’s Vice President for South Asia Affairs Kashem Sharif, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Khandaker Shahidul Islam, former Senior Assistant Secretary CM Yusuf Hossain, businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun and former Bagerhat MP MAH Selim. The first three of them are still absconding.

Earlier, the testimony in the case ended on February 5. The court recorded the testimony of 39 out of 68 witnesses in the case.

It is worth noting that on December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Khaleda Zia at Tejgaon Police Station. After investigating the case, a charge sheet was submitted to the court on May 5, 2008 against 11 others, including Khaleda Zia. On March 19 last year, the same court rejected the acquittal of 8 accused, including Khaleda Zia, and ordered the framing of charges.

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