Khaleda not produced before court for illness

A Dhaka court on Monday fixed 17 April for the next hearing in the Gatco corruption case filed against Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia and others as she could not be produced before the court due to illness, reports UNB.

Judge Abu Syed Diljar Hossain of the Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka set the date.

Earlier on 27 February, the court fixed today (Monday) for hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 16 others in the case.

On 7 February, the prosecution began hearing on charge framing in the corruption case.

On 25 November last, the High Court directed the trial court to conclude the trial proceedings in the case within six months.
On 2 September, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against two Gatco directors, Khaleda and others.
They were accused of causing a loss of Tk 10 billion to the state by awarding the contract of container handling at the Chittagong port and Dhaka's Inland Container Depot to Gatco.
The ACC pressed charges on 13 May the following year against 24 people, including nine former ministers and state ministers of Khaleda's cabinet. Six of the accused have so far died.