DHAKA, Feb 27, 2019 (BSS) – A Dhaka court today adjourned till March 18
the hearing of Gatco graft case against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and
17 others.
Judge Abu Syed Dilzar Hossain of the Dhaka Special Judge Court -3 passed
the order in presence of prime accused Khaleda Zia.
The court passed the order as the defence pleaded for time saying they
are yet to receive the necessary documents from the prosecution.
Earlier the jail authority produced Khaleda before the court at around
12.45 pm from the former Central Jail in capital’s Nazimuddin Road, where she
is spending jail terms in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft
cases. After court’s order, police rushed her to the jail at 1.05 pm.
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 Chittagong.
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.
The BNP chairperson later filed two writ petitions with the High Court
challenging the legality of bringing the case under emergency power rules and
sought stay on the proceedings of the case in the trial court.
The High Court on July 15, 2008, stayed the trial proceedings of the
case and issued separate rulings in this regard.
The case is now pending before Dhaka Special Judges Court-3 in charge
framing stage.