Ill Khaleda not produced before court, next hearing June 18

Staff Correspondent: A Dhaka court has set June 18 for the next hearing in the Gatco corruption case filed against BNP chief Khaleda Zia and others as she was not produced before the court on Tuesday due to illness.

The Keraniganj jail authority sent a letter to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). In reply, the hospital authority said that Khaleda Zia won’t be able to appear before the court due to her sickness.

All kinds of preparations were taken to send Khaleda Zia to Keraniganj jail from hospital, jail authority said.

Khaleda Zia is now taking treatment at BSMMU following some her sickness.

On September 2, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station against Khaleda and several others on charges of misappropriating around Tk 1,000 crore while dealing with Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Company Ltd (Gatco).

On May 13, 2008, the anti-graft watchdog pressed charges against Khaleda and 23 others.

Meanwhile, the names of seven other accused, including Khaleda's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, were dropped from the charge sheet following their deaths on different dates.

Khaleda Zia landed in jail back in February last year after her conviction in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case, where she was handed a five-year jail term.

Later, she was also convicted in Zia Charitable Trust graft case and handed a seven-year term.

risingbd/Dhaka/May 14, 2019/Mamun/Mukul