Hearing on Gatco Graft against Khaleda Zia Deferred to Sept 24

The charge framing hearing in a graft case against BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia and 14 other people was postponed by a court in Dhaka on Tuesday until September 24.

The hearing is set for today and will be presided over by Judge Ali Hossen of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3. However, the defense attorneys requested more time in a petition.

The new date was later established by Judge Ali Hossen after she accepted the plea.

The BNP leader's attorney Masud Ahmmed Talukder was present in court.

On September 2 in 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the 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).

Khaleda Zia and Koko were detained the following day. On September 18 of the same year, the case was added to the Emergency Powers Act.

The anti-graft organization filed charge papers against the BNP leader and 23 other people on May 13 of that year, resulting in 11 prosecutions.

After their deaths on various dates, the names of eleven suspects, including Khaleda's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, were later removed from the charging sheet.