Dhaka: The Supreme Court on Sunday upheld a High Court order that stayed the trial proceedings against BNP leader Moudud Ahmed in the Niko graft case for eight weeks.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) challenging the HC stay order.

The apex court also asked the High Court bench led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim to dispose by  19 January next a High Court rule that asked the authorities for explanation why the proceeding of this case will not be scrapped.

Earlier on 1 December, HC stayed the trial proceedings against the BNP leader in the case for eight weeks.

An HC bench comprising Justice Sheikh Abdul Awal and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the order following a petition filed by Moudud Ahmed.

The ACC on 9 December, 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Moudud 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 the chargesheet against 11 people.

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