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Published : 19 Feb 2025, 01:31 PM
A Dhaka court has held that the charges against former prime minister Khaleda Zia and the others accused in the Niko corruption case were politically motivated and intended for harassment.
Judge Rabbiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 made the remark before acquitting all of the accused on Monday.
The others acquitted in the case are Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, principal secretary to the former prime minister, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, former acting secretary of the energy and mineral resources ministry, CM Yusuf Hussain, former senior assistant secretary, Meer Moynul Haque, former senior general manager of BAPEX, businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun, Salim Bhuiyan, chairman of International Travel Corporation, and Kashem Sharif, vice president (South Asia) of Niko Resources Bangladesh Ltd.
In his remarks, the judge observed that a similar case had been filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. While that case did not progress, the full trial for this case had been conducted.
He noted that one of the accused, Salim Bhuiyan, had given a confessional statement after four days of remand in police custody, during which he was tortured. He withdrew the confession, claiming he had been coerced.
Although the case was registered at Tejgaon Police Station, the judge pointed out that Salim was held at Gulshan Police Station, where he became ill due to the torture and was treated at the Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital. The prosecution denied this, but records showed he was admitted to the hospital, and receipts for medicines purchased outside were available.
"Salim Bhuiyan's confession was obtained under torture during remand. This forced confession was intended to implicate others like Gias Uddin Al Mamun and Kashem Sharif, but it cannot be considered true. The political motivation behind involving Khaleda Zia and the other accused in the case is evident."
The court then acquitted all the accused.
Khaleda, the main defendant, could not attend court as she was abroad for medical treatment. Her lawyer represented her in court. The other defendants, who were out on bail, were present in court.
The defence lawyers expressed satisfaction with the verdict, as all the accused were cleared.
The Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, filed the Niko graft case on Dec 9, 2007, after the BNP chief was arrested by the military-backed caretaker government.
Charges were pressed against 11 people, including Khaleda, in 2008, for allegedly costing the state Tk 137 billion in losses by awarding a gas exploration contract to Niko Resources, a Canadian oil and gas company.
The court indicted Khaleda and seven others accused in the case on Mar 19, opening the trial 16 years after the anti-graft watchdog filed the suit. The court recorded testimonies of 39 witnesses during the trial.
