Khaleda Zia's Niko graft case verdict Feb 19

A Dhaka court will deliver the verdict against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and seven others in the Niko graft case on February 19, report agencies.

Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 set the date after the end of arguments from both sides on Thursday, Hannan Bhuiyan, Khaleda's lawyer, said.

The Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC) filed the case on December 9, 2007 after the BNP chief was arrested by the military-backed caretaker government.

Charges were pressed against 11 people, including Khaleda, in 2008, for allegedly costing the state Tk 137 billion in losses by awarding a gas exploration contract to Niko Resources, a Canadian oil and gas company.