Court Correspondent :
The prosecution yesterday (Sunday) completed hearing on charge framing against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and 14 others in the Gatco graft case.
Anti -Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol told the court that the charges brought against Khaleda Zia and others accused of misappropriating about Tk 1,000 crore while dealing with Global Agro Trade (Private) Company Limited (Gatco) were primarily proven.
He appealed to the court to frame charges against all the accused of the case. Judge Muhammad Ali Hussain of the Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka on Sunday fixed t July 24 for hearing on behalf of Khaleda Zia and other accused people.
Meanwhile, an application on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia was submitted to the court, seeking adjournment of the hearing, advocate Zaynul Abedin Mesbah, one of her lawyers, told the media. In the petition, Mesbah said that Masud Ahmed Talukder, one of their senior lawyers, is now out of the country. He will place arguments on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia against the charges on the next scheduled date. As such, adjournment is needed, the lawyer added.
Khaleda Zia is receiving medical treatment at her Gulshan residence. She is now out of the jail by an executive order of the government.
On September 2, 2007, the ACC filed the case with Tejgaon Model Police Station against Khaleda Zia and others on charges of misappropriating about Tk 1,000 crore while dealing with Global Agro Trade (Private) Company Limited (Gatco).
Thirty-three more cases, including Niko and Barapukuria coalmine graft cases, against Khaleda Zia are pending with different courts across the country.
