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Niko Graff Case

Probe report to be placed even if Hasina’s version not received

Staff Correspondent
Investigation report in the Niko graft case against detained former premier and Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina and six others will be submitted within the predetermined time even if Hasina refuses to give statement in her defence.
The investigation report is to be submitted by March 26.'
The Anti-Corruption
Commission (ACC) on March 13 in a letter through the jail authorities gave five days time to Hasina for submitting statement in her defence. The ACC on the same date issued similar letters to the other accused in the case.
On March 15, Hasina, now undergoing treatment at Square Hospital, refused to receive the ACC letter from the jail authorities without consulting her lawyers.
The jail authorities claimed that they made arrangements for the former prime minister's meeting with her lawyers as per her demand, but she did not agree to the arrangements.
Hasina's counsels complained that they were not allowed to visit theirclient.
SM Sabbir Hasan, a deputy director of ACC and investigation officer (IO) of the case. said, they did not know whether Hasina received the notice or not. 'We have given her a chance to defend herself in accordance with the commission law’s. It's up to her whether she takes the chance or not. We have nothing to do here.”
Sabbir. however, said Hasina could submit her statement any time before the charge is pressed.
Commenting on the jail authorities not allowing Hasina’s lawyers to visit her, the 10 said Hasina could have informed the ACC in writing that she needed to see her lawyers.
The ACC filed the case against the AL chief on December 9 last year on charge of causing a loss of over Tk 13,630 crore to the public exchequer by initiating a gas exploration deal with Canadian company Niko Resources Ltd.
The other accused in the case are former state minister for energy Rafiqul Islam, former principal secretary’ to the Prime Minister's Office Dr SA Samad, former energy’
secretaries Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and M Akmal Hossain, former Petrobangla chairman Musharraf Hossain, and Vice-president (South Asia) of Niko Kashem Sharif.
Four of the accused have already submitted statements in their defence, the IO said adding that Rafiqul Islam and DrTowfiq-e-FJahi Chowdhury applied for time extension, but their pleas were rejected on ground of time limitations for submitting the investigation report.