Dhaka: The Supreme Court on Sunday started hearing a leave to appeal petition filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, seeking a stay in the trial proceedings of the Niko corruption case against her.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice SK Sinha has been formed to hear the petition by Khaleda’s legal team.

Avdocate A J Mohammad Ali stood for Khaleda and attorney general Mahabubey Alam and additional attorney general Murad Reza for the state. Khurshed Alam counted as the Anti‑Corruption Commission counsel.

The hearing is set to continue Monday.

Earlier on 18 June 2015, the High Court cleared the way for trial proceedings to resume in the case against Khaleda Zia, rejecting a Khaleda petition from eight years ago that had challenged the very legality of the case filed eight years ago.

The BNP chief filed the leave-to-appeal petition on 8 December 2007 of the same year challenging the legality of the HC order.

Later the petition was sent to a regular bench for the hearing.

The ACC on 9 December 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda and four others in connection with a Tk 137.77 loss to the national exchequer caused by the signing of an oil-gas exploration agreement with Niko during the previous BNP regime.

Later on 5 May 2008, it submitted charge sheet against 11 people.

Khaleda filed the petition with the HC challenging the legality of the case against her.

Later on 9 July 2008, the High Court adjourned the proceedings of the case.

It may be recalled that for the bulk of 2007 and 2008, the democratic process in Bangladesh was in effect suspended, and the country was governed by a military-backed caretaker government that reportedly sought to ‘cleanse’ politics.