DHAKA: The High Court on Wednesday rejected a petition filed by BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia challenging the legality of Gatco graft case, clearing the way for her trial in the case.
In its verdict, the court withdrew the freeze on the Gatco graft case against the BNP chief and others and said that the case proceedings will continue in the trial court.
The bench comprising Justice M Nuruzzaman and Justice Abdur Rob also asked Khaleda to surrender before the trial court within two months after receiving the court order.
The court also dismissed its long-pending rule asking the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why Gatco graft case filed against BNP chief Khaleda Zia and others should not be quashed.
Earlier on June 7, after concluding the hearing on the rule, the court, said, “Hearing concluded in the case; judgment CAV”.
CAV (Curia Advisari Vult) is a Latin legal term which means the court wishes to be advised (judgment is reserved).
From April 19, AJ Mohammad Ali and Barrister Badrudduza Badal moved for Khaleda Zia in the rule hearing while M Khushid Alam Khan placed his argument on behalf of ACC.
Rejecting the four petitions filed by the BNP chief to defer the rule hearing, the HC bench of Justice M Nuruzzaman and Justice Jafar Ahmed started a hearing on a seven-year-old writ petition challenging the legality of Gatco corruption case filed against Khaleda Zia.
On April 7, Chief Justice SK Sinha assigned the bench to deal with Niko, Gatco and Barapukura coalmine graft cases.
Later, Justice Abdur Rob was replaced by Justice Jafar Ahmed to settle the rule on Gatco graft case.
On September 2, 2007, the ACC filed the Gatco corruption case during the military-installed caretaker regime against Khaleda, 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 September 27, 2007, Khaleda and Koko filed two petitions with the High Court challenging the legality of the case under the Emergency Rule Act and seeking a stay order on the trial's proceedings.
In 2008, a High Court bench issued a rule and stayed the trial's proceedings after hearing a petition of the BNP chief.
In 2008, Khaleda filed another petition challenging the legality of the case filed under the ACC Act.
BDST: 1353 HRS, AUG 05, 2015
RS/RR
