The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case in December 2007, accusing Khaleda and several others of abusing power to award a gas exploration and extraction deal to Canadian company Niko when she was prime minister between 2001 and 2006.
A Dhaka court today told BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's defence lawyers that the hearing of the charge framing in the Niko graft case would proceed with or without their participation on the next scheduled date