Dhaka: The High Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the legality of Niko graft case against her.

An HC bench comprising Justice Md Nuruzzaman and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order.

The bench also asked the former prime minister to surrender before the court within two months of receiving the court order.

ACC lawyer M Khurshed Alam Khan told reporters that as the HC rejected the petition now there is no legal bar to continuation of trial proceedings of the graft case against Khaleda Zia.

On Wednesday, the same HC bench fixed Thursday for delivering judgement.

Earlier on 28 May, the bench concluded the hearing on the petition filed by Khaleda Zia.  

The ACC on 9 December 2007 filed the Niko graft case against Khaleda Zia and four others in connection with a Tk 137.77 loss of 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 chargesheet against 11 people.

Khaleda Zia 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.