Indictment hearing in Khaleda's Gatco graft case Feb 15

A Dhaka court has set February 15 for holding a hearing in a graft case against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and 14 others.

Judge Ali Hossen of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 re-fixed the date as Khaleda Zia was absent from the hearing on Wednesday due to illness. On behalf of her, Syed Zainul Abedin Mezbah was present at the court and he asked for time.

On September 2, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against 13 people, including Khaleda and her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko with Tejgaon Police Station on charges of misappropriating huge money while dealing with Global Agro Trade (Pvt.) Company Ltd (GATCO).

The next day, Khaleda Zia and Koko were arrested. The case was included in the Emergency Powers Act on September 18 of the same year.

On May 13, 2008, the anti-graft body pressed charge sheets against the BNP chief and 23 others, inflicting 11 in the case.

Later, the names of eleven accused, including Khaleda's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, were dropped from the charge sheet following their deaths on different dates.

/KN/