TIMELINE[1]
1997: Niko enters Bangladesh, takes part in second round gas block bidding, but fails
1998: Niko submits unsolicited proposal to develop Chhatak and Feni gas fields
July 27, 1999: Niko signs a $4 million "consultancy agreement" with Stratum Developments Ltd
August 1999: A framework of understanding signed between Niko and Bapex for identifying abandoned gas fields
October 1, 1999: Niko and Stratum sign a "management services contact"
October 10, 2001: BNP-led four-party alliance government assumes office
February 27 and August 10, 2003: The then Law Minister Moudud Ahmed's law firm “Moudud Ahmed and Associates” gives legal opinions in favour of Niko to sign the agreement
August 25, 2003: Moudud gives similar opinion as law minister
October 16, 2003: Niko and Bapex sign the Joint Venture Agreement to develop two gas fields
January 8, 2005: A blowout takes place at Niko's Chhatak field in Tengratila of Sunamganj
May 23, 2005: Niko presents the then State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain with a luxurious Lexus SUV
June 2005: Mosharraf Hossain travels to Canada and US at Niko's cost
June 18, 2005: Mosharraf Hossain steps down amid controversy
June 23, 2005: Another blowout occurs at the same field in Tengratila
December 27, 2006: Niko signs GPSA with Petrobangla to sell the gas extracted from Feni gas field
December 2007: ACC files two cases against Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina in this connection
May 6, 2008: ACC presses charges against Khaleda and 10 others including Moudud, Mosharraf and Mamoon
November 17, 2009: HC prevents government from making payments to Niko until Niko pays the compensation for the blowouts
March 2010: Hasina's case is quashed
April 1 & June 16, 2010: Niko Resources Bangladesh Ltd files two cases with ICSID
June 2011: Niko Canada pleads guilty before a Canadian court to bribe Mosharraf and agrees to pay a $9.5 million fine
Resources
editTengratila Blowouts: Niko liable, must pay damages | The Daily Star
NIKO signed bribery deals | The Daily Star
- ^ Adhikary, Tuhin Shubhra; Habib, Wasim Bin (2017-04-07). "NIKO signed bribery deals". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-10-20.