Testimony Against Eight People Including Khaleda Zia in NAICO Corruption Case

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and two persons have testified against eight people in the NAICO corruption case.

 Miraj Hossain and Abdul Baki testified in the court of Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka-9 (Temporary) Special Judge Court at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj on Monday.

 Khaleda's lawyer appeared on behalf of Zia.  Then they testified in court.

 Meanwhile, Miraj's statement and cross-examination are over.  Abdul Baki gave a partial statement.

 The court fixed April 4 for the next hearing.  Khaleda Zia's lawyers Zia Uddin Zia and Hannan Bhuiyan confirmed the matter.

 On December 9, 2007, the then Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Muhammad Mahbubul Alam filed this case against Khaleda Zia and five others in the capital's Tejgaon police station.  The case was filed on charges of corruption and financial damage to the state through an opaque contract with the Canadian company Niko.

 Then on May 5, 2018, a charge sheet was filed against 11 people including Khaleda Zia.  They were accused of causing financial loss of about 13 thousand 777 crores to the state.  On March 19, 2023, Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of the Dhaka-9 (Temporary) Special Judge Court located in Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj framed charges against the accused.

 The other accused in the case are the then Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, former Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Khandaker Shahidul Islam, former Senior Assistant Secretary CM Yusuf Hossain, former General Manager of BAPEX Mir Moinul Haque, businessman Ghiyas Uddin Al Mamun, Chairman of International Travel Corporation.  Salim Bhuiyan and Kashem Sharif, Vice President for South Asia at NICO.

 On the other hand, member of BNP Standing Committee Barrister Maudud Ahmed, former Minister of State for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain and former secretary of BAPEX.  As Shafiur Rahman died, they were acquitted from the case.