A Dhaka court on Sunday fixed March 13 to hold a hearing on charge framing in Gatco graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and others.

The court also exempted her from personal appearance before it in the case.

Acting Judge Nazrul Islam of the Dhaka Special Judge Court -3 issued the order in response to the pleas of the defence.

Today was set for holding hearing on charge framing, but prime accused Begum Khaleda Zia failed to appear before the court on health ground, making her counsels plead for time.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against 13 people including Khaleda Zia 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, six including Arafat, Saifur Rahman and Matiur Rahman Nizami have died so far.

Khaleda is in jail since February 8, 2018, the day she was convicted in a graft case. She was shifted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital on April 1, 2019.

On Mar 25 last year, following the outbreak of coronavirus in the country, the government suspended Khaleda’s jail term by executive order and released Khaleda for six months on the conditions that she would receive treatment at home and not travel abroad.

Later, the suspension of the prison term was extended by another six months.

BDST: 1334 HRS, JAN 23, 2022
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