Special Report
Hasina, Khaleda, 10 Others Sued for NIKO Gas Deal
EP Report

The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) has sued former Prime Ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina along with 10 others for what it called inflicting an enormous loss to the state through awarding gas deals to Canadian gas exploration company Niko by abusing their power.

In two separate cases -- one filed against Sheikh Hasina and six others, and the other against Khaleda Zia and four others -- complainants alleged that primary investigations found involvement of the accused in illegally awarding contracts to Niko for exploring and developing three gas fields in the country.

ACC Deputy Director Sabbir Hasan, in the case filed against Sheikh Hasina and her co-accused with Tejgaon police station, said the deal with Niko caused a loss of over Tk 13,630 crore to the government exchequer.

In the case against Khaleda Zia and her co-accused filed with the same police station, ACC Assistant Director Mahbubul Alam said although Khaleda Zia was the custodian of the country's wealth as the prime minister, she awarded Niko an opportunity to extract gas worth Tk 10,000 crore, criminally violating her oath, unlawfully abusing her power, and through corruption.

The case also said she did it in collusion with her co-accused, and issued an order for signing of the illegal deal with Niko.

The co-accused of currently detained Awami League President Sheikh Hasina are -- detained former state minister for energy Rafiqul Islam, former principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Dr SA Samad, former energy secretaries Dr Towfiq -e- Elahi Chowdhury and M Akmal Hossain, former Petro Bangla chairman Mosharraf Hossain, and Vice-president (South Aisa) of Niko Research Bangladesh Ltd Kashem Sharif.

The co-accused of Khaleda Zia are detained former law minister Barrister Moudud Ahmed, detained former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former acting energy secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam, and Vice-president (South Aisa) of Niko Research Bangladesh Ltd Kashem Sharif.

The cases mentioned that due to the awarding of the deals to an “unskilled” company like Niko the blow out at Chhatak gas field occurred, resulting in a huge loss to the sate.

The ACC will investigate the cases and will examine if any body else was involved in making the alleged illegal deals.

Hasina is already charged in three extortion cases -- two filed by individuals while the third was filed by the ACC. Moreover, three more corruption cases against her in connection with Meghnaghat power project, and purchases of Mig-29s and a frigate are also currently being heard in courts.

The ACC also filed a graft case against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, and 11 others in connection with violating tender conditions in appointing GATCO, an indenting house, for handling containers in Dhaka Inland Container Depot (ICD) and in Chittagong Port ICD yard despite the company's lack of experience and skills.

The High Court however quashed two graft cases against Khaleda Zia field during the last AL regime in connection with Khaleda's house decoration and an airbus purchase during one of her tenures as a prime minister.