Indictment hearing on July 10

A Dhaka court has fixed July 10 to hold hearing on charge framing in Gatco graft case against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and 14 others.

Judge Ali Hossain of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 Sheikh Nazmul Alam passed the order on Tuesday.

Earlier, hearing on a plea, filed by accused Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury for exemption from the case, was held.

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.

The case was lodged 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.

On May 13, 2008, formal charge was submitted against 24. 

However, eight accused, 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 case filed for crimes against humanity.