Charge hearing in Khaleda’s Gatco case now Mar 6

A Dhaka court on Thursday (February 15) adjourned until March 6 the hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 12 others in Gatco graft case.

Judge Muhammad Ali Hussain of the Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka passed the order after a petition on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia was submitted seeking an adjournment of the hearing because she could not appear before the court due to her illness.

On September 2, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Tejgaon Model Police Station against Khaleda Zia and 12 others on the charge of misappropriating around Tk 1,000 crore while dealing with Global Agro Trade (Private) Company Limited (Gatco).

On May 13, 2008, the anti-graft body ACC pressed charges against the former premier and 23 others.

Meanwhile, names of nine other accused people, including Khaleda Zia’s son Arafat Rahman Koko, were dropped from the charge sheet following their deaths on different dates.