Order to produce all witnesses by September 12

The court ordered the ACC to produce all the witnesses of the state side including the investigating officer in the NAICO corruption case filed against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and 8 people by September 12.

One of Khaleda Zia's lawyers. When Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan requested to stop the testimony of the witnesses in the case, the judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-9 gave this order.

Zakir told the court, 'In the last three hearings, the prosecution has failed to present any witness. Therefore, it is necessary to close the record of the statement of the witnesses.'

ACC Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir was present in the court during the hearing on Sunday (September 8).

It should be noted that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Khaleda Zia at Tejgaon police station on December 9, 2007. After investigating the case, on May 5, 2008, a charge sheet was filed in the court against 11 people including Khaleda Zia. On March 19, the same court rejected the acquittal of 8 accused including Khaleda Zia and ordered the formation of charges.

The other accused are the then Chief Secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, former Bapex General Manager Mir Moinul Haque, NICO Vice President for South Asia Kashem Sharif, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Acting Secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, former Senior Assistant Secretary CM Yusuf Hossain, businessman Ghiyas Uddin Al Former Member of Parliament for Mamun and Bagerhat MAH Salim.

Bangladesh /SBT