Raj Abrar of DOT
A special court in Dhaka announced January 3 for holding a hearing on a petition seeking permission to produce an FBI special agent and two members of Canadian police in connection with the Niko corruption case.
The court also asked all the 11 accused, including BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, of the case to appear before the court on the day.
The order was passed yesterday by Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of the Special Judge’s Court-9 of Dhaka, reports The Daily Star.
Judge Md Mahmoodul Kabir of the Special Judge’s Court-9 of Dhaka had earlier fixed December 9 for hearing on the petition.
On November 22, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, in a press briefing at his official residence, claimed that investigations by FBI and Canadian Police have found involvement of Hawa Bhaban in the Niko graft case.
On the same day, the AG submitted a petition to a Dhaka court seeking permission to produce three witnesses, including an FBI special agent, before it in connection with the graft case.
On December 9, 2007, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Niko graft case with Tejgaon Police Station, accusing Khaleda and 10 others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko during her tenure as prime minister.