A Dhaka court on Wednesday set February 3 to hold hearing on charge framing in Gatco graft case against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and others, reports BSS. Judge Abu Syed Dilzar Hossain of the Dhaka Special Judge Court -3 reset the date for holding the hearing in the case at the newly-constructed temporary court in front of the Keraniganj Central Jail, Khaleda Zia’s lawyer Ziauddin Zia confirmed the matter.
Wednesday was set for holding hearing on charge framing, but the jail authorities couldn’t produce Khaleda Zia before court as she is undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against 13 people, including Khaleda and her younger son Arafat Rahman on September 2, 2007, with Tejgaon Police Station for their role in corruption regarding penning a contract with Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Co Ltd (Gatco) for container management at inland container depots in Dhaka and Chattogram.
According to the case documents, the state counted Taka 145.63 million in losses when the accused awarded Gatco the container handling work at Dhaka Inland Container Depot and Chittagong Port.
Formal charge was submitted against 24 on May 13, 2008. But of the 24 accused, six including Arafat, Saifur Rahman and Matiur Rahman Nizami have died so far.
