Dhaka, Feb. 19 -- A Dhaka court on Wednesday acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and seven other accused in the sensational Niko graft case.

Judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 Md Rabiul Alam passed the order, said the court's peshkar Md Belal Hossain.

Earlier on February 13, the court set February 19 to deliver the judgment after hearing from both defence and prosecution, he said.

On February 5, the recording of the testimony from the witnesses ended while 39 out of 68 witnesses gave the testimonies.

On December 9, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case accusing Khaleda and four others of causing a loss of Tk 137.77 billion to the state by signing an oil and gas exploration deal with Canadian company Niko on behalf of...