Dhaka: A court here on Wednesday deferred the charge framing hearing in Niko Graft case against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and 10 others as she could not be produced before the court as she was reportedly asleep, reports the UNB.

Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-9 fixed March 3 for next hearing.

When the judge entered the courtroom, Khaleda’s lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder told the court that she did not appear before it for her sickness.

Then, the judge asked jail authorities where is Khaleda Zia now?

In reply, the representative of the jail authorities said it was not possible to produce Khaleda Zia before the court as she was sleeping.

However, Khaleda’s lawyer Masud Talukder said, ‘Khaleda Zia is sick. She couldn’t wake up for her illness.’

He also alleged that there is negligence in Khaleda Zia’s treatment.

Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol, said, ‘Khaleda Zia is an honourable woman. She’ll be provided with treatment as per the jail code.’

On February 4, the court set February 20 (today) for the hearing on charge-framing against 11 people, including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, in the case.

On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case accusing Khaleda and others of causing a loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the Sate by signing an oil-gas exploration deal with Canadian company Niko when the BNP was in office.

Police submitted a charge-sheet against the accused on May 5, 2008.

The others accused in the case are BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed, former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddique, Khandaker Shahidul Islam, CM Yusuf Hossain, former Bapex general manager Mir Mainul Haq, its former secretary Shafiur Rahman, Giasuddin Al Mamun, former MP MAH Selim and former vice-president of South-Asia affairs Niko Kashem Sharif.