The testimony process in the Niko corruption case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and eight others has concluded. The court has set February 13 as the date for the defendants to present their self-defense statements.

On Wednesday, Judge Rabiul Alam of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4 completed the deposition of the investigation officer, former ACC Deputy Director Sahedur Rahman. Afterward, the defense lawyers cross-examined him. Khaleda Zia’s lawyer, Abdul Hannan Bhuiyan, confirmed that 39 out of 68 witnesses have testified in the case.

Apart from Khaleda Zia, the other accused are former 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 C.M. Yusuf Hossain, former BAPEX General Manager Mir Moynul Haque, businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun, International Travel Corporation Chairman Selim Bhuiya, and Niko’s South Asia Vice President Kashem Sharif. Three others named in the charge sheet were dropped due to their deaths—former Law Minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, former State Minister for Energy A.K.M. Mosharraf Hossain, and former BAPEX Secretary Shafiur Rahman.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initially filed the case on December 9, 2007, at Tejgaon Police Station against Khaleda Zia and four others. On May 5, 2018, a charge sheet was submitted against 11 individuals, accusing them of causing a financial loss of approximately BDT 13,777 crore to the state through an opaque agreement with the Canadian company Niko.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, a Dhaka court has ordered Max Group Chairman Engineer Golam Mohammad Alamgir to be sent to jail over charges of acquiring wealth beyond known sources. The court has also scheduled a hearing on his 10-day remand for Thursday.

Additionally, the court has ordered the freezing of 15 bank accounts belonging to former Food Minister Kamrul Islam, holding a total of BDT 3.55 crore. This decision came in response to an ACC petition.

In another case, a Dhaka court has approved the arrest petitions for former lawmaker of Jhalokathi-1, Shahjahan Omar, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, and former DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia in connection with the murder of garment worker Rubel during an anti-discrimination student movement in Adabor. The request was approved by Metropolitan Magistrate M.A. Azharul Islam following an application by the Detective Branch (DB) police.

In Narayanganj, a court has granted police a three-day remand for former Law Minister Anisul Huq in connection with a murder case in Sonargaon. The decision was made by Senior Judicial Magistrate Noor Mohsin after a five-day remand request was submitted.

Meanwhile, an international crimes tribunal has issued an arrest warrant for former Chattogram MP A.B.M. Fazle Karim Chowdhury, instructing his presence in court by February 16. The order was passed by a tribunal led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumdar following a petition by the investigation agency.

Additionally, police have arrested Saffayet Bin Zakir, son of former State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain, from South Banasree, Dhaka. Separately, Dhaka Metropolitan DB police arrested former Singair Upazila Chairman Mushfiqur Rahman Khan, alias Hannan, from Dhanmondi. A raid on his office in Planners Tower, Banglamotor, led to the recovery of a revolver, a shotgun, 95 rounds of bullets, and 80 cartridges. He is a named suspect in multiple cases, including murder. Saffayet also faces charges in Khilgaon and Roumari, Kurigram.