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A Dhaka court on Sunday framed charges against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and seven others in Niko graft case, reports UNB.
Judge of Dhaka Special Court-9 Sheikh Hafizur Rahman framed the charges.
The court also fixed May 23 for recording the testimonies of the witnesses in the case.
Three other accused in the case- Khandaker Shahidul Islam, CM Yusuf Hossain and Businessperson Gias Uddin Al Mamun- were present at the court.
Advocate Masud Ahmmed Talukdar stood for Khaleda Zia.
Meanwhile, the court also issued a warrant for the arrest of another accused, Selim Bhuiya, in the case when his counsel Jakaria Haidar filed a petition seeking time.
Earlier, the court deferred the hearing on charge framing in the case for several times.
On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case accusing Khaleda Zia and four others of causing a loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the state by signing an oil and gas exploration deal with Canadian company Niko on behalf of the state that was deemed to not place Bangladesh's national interest above all other considerations, and swayed by graft.
ACC pressed charges in court against 11 people, including Khaleda, in May 2008.
The other accused in the case are former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, CM Yusuf Hossain, former Bapex general manager Mir Mainul Haq, Giasuddin Al Mamun, former parliamentarian MAH Selim and former vice-president of South-Asia affairs Niko Kashem Sharif.
Among the accused, BNP Standing Committee Member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain and former secretary of Bapex Shafiur Rahman died during the trial proceedings.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
