BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia skipped the indictment hearing of Niko graft case today for what the jail authorities said ‘taking napping’.
The authorities at Dhaka Old Central Jail told the Special Judge Court-9 that Khaleda was not produced before the court “as she did notget up from sleep”, court sources said.
However, Khaleda’s lawyer Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukderinformed the court that the former premier is sick and so did not appear before it.
She needs treatment according to the High Court (HC) order, Masud said.
BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed, another accused in the case, told the court a person cannot sleep till 12noon. ‘She is ill, so she is asleep.’
At the same time, Anti-Corruption Commission Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol saidKhaleda Zia would get treatment according to the jail code.
Later, Special Judge Court-9 Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman fixed March 3 for the nexthearing on the charge framing in the corruption case.
On February 12, a petition was filed with the court by one of Khaleda’s lawyers seekingtreatment for the BNP chief. However, the court did not decide on the matter yet.
The HC on October 4 last year directed the government to immediately admit Khaledato Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for treatment.
On December 9, 2007, the ACC filed the graft case with Tejgaon Police Station accusing Khaleda and10 others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadiancompany Niko.
