A Dhaka court on Sunday (July 24) deferred till August 31 the hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 13 others in the Gatco graft case that involves Tk1,000 crore.

Judge Mohammed Ali Hossain of the Dhaka’s Third Special Judge’s Court set the fresh date after accepting a time plea filed by Khaleda Zia’s counsel.

However, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) opposed the petition.

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.

Formal charge was submitted against 24 on May 13, 2008. But of the 24 accused, 11 including Arafat, Saifur Rahman, MK Anwer, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Ahmed Abdul Kashem have died so far. Another accused former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Matiur Rahman Nizami has been executed after getting convicted and sentenced to death in a crimes against humanity case.

According to the case, there was corruption in the awarding of a contract to Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Company Ltd (Gatco) for container management at inland depots in Dhaka and Chittagong. The graft allegedly cost the state exchequer over Tk1,000 crore.

Khaleda Zia was arrested in the case on September 2, 2007. She was freed the following year after she secured bail in Gatco and three other cases.

BDST: 1639 HRS, JULY 24, 2022  
MN/SMS