DHAKA: A Dhaka Court has withdrawn 'Production Warrant' (PW) issued against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Gatco and Barapukuria Coal Mine corruption cases.

Judge Abu Syed Diljar Hossain of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 in Gatco corruption case and Judge KSM Shah Imran of Dhaka Special Judge Court-2 in Barapukuria Coal Mine case gave orders of the withdrawal of PW, following separate writs filed by defendant’s lawyer Hannan Bhuyian.

On September 2, 2007, ACC filed the Gatco corruption case during the military-backed caretaker government against Khaleda Zia, and her youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko and 11 others.

According to the case documents, the defendants illegally awarded the contract of container handling at the Chittagong port and the Dhaka's Inland Container Depot to a certain firm Gatco, causing a loss of Tk 145.64 million to the state exchequer.

On February, 2008, ACC filed the case accusing Khaleda Zia and 16 others including 10 cabinet members of the then BNP-led government, over corruption in Barapukuria Coal Mine.

The case reported loss of about Tk158 crore from the state while handing the production and management in the coal mine.

BDST: 1527 HRS, JUN 14, 2018

AH/AP