The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister Begum Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday denied her involvement in GATCO-scam saying she had no role in awarding container-handling contracts to GATCO.

Her counsel Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan said this yesterday immediately after his meeting with Begum Zia at her Special Jail on the premises of the Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament Building).

"The former Prime Minister has strongly denied her involvement saying she was not in-charge of the Ministry concerned and she did not know as what had happened during awarding the contract," he told journalists on the sub-lane leading to the Special Jail.

He said, "She (Begum Zia) referred to the depositions made by five senior ministers of her Cabinet to the Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday and said she did not know what the five ministers have told the Commission."

"I knew nothing about what had happened during awarding ICD container-handling contract to GATCO," Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan quoted Begum Zia as saying him to disclose to the journalists.

Begum Zia made the disclosure a day after her Cabinet's five former senior ministers, including M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Maulana Matuir Rahman Nizami, M Shamsul Islam and MK Anwar, who were members of the past purchase commitee, were grilled by the ACC in connection with the GATCO-scam on Tuesday.

She was arrested on September 3 on a corruption charge allegedly for her involvement in awarding container-handling contract to GATCO in two inland container depots (ICD), which the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) complained had incurred Tk 1,000 crore losses to the State.

GATCO is a private business company owned by family members of late Shipping Minister Lt Col (retd) Akbar Hossain, who was Cabinet member of Begum Zia's both the governments. The ICD terminals are under the jurisdiction of the Shipping Ministry.

Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan also said he had discussion with Begum Zia about legal maters.

Earlier in the morning, Member of the BNP Advisory Council Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah told journalists at his New DOHS residence that Begum Zia denied her involvement in GATCO scam while talking to him over telephone immediately before her arrest on September 3.

"As the Prime Minister Begum Zia neither approved nor disapproved the mater in which she was made an accused," he claimed, adding, " She said if there had been any irregularity in this mater, the ministry concerned would primarily look into it"

Hannan Shah who was also a former Minister of the first BNP Government led by Begum Zia (1991 to 1996) said the Government purchase commitee carries out its function under a prescribed system and if there is any violation of any rule, the person concerned will be accountable.

He was not inducted in the 72-member immediate-past BNP-led alliance Cabinet for his successive failures to return to Parliaments from his home constituency.

Hannan Shah said as far as his knowledge is concerned, as a former Minister, the immediate-past Cabinet purchase-commitee functioned in accordance with rules and regulations.

He wondered that the arrest of the Begum Zia and others were made before the completion of inquiries against them.

Hannan Shah, however, did not disclose as to how many issues Begum Zia had discussed with him immediately before her arrest

He also demanded the release of two former Prime Ministers-Khaleda

Zia and Sheikh Hasina-both detained in special jails on the sprawling Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament building) complex on separate corruption charges.

He demanded the release of all political leaders detained without any

charges.

The BNP leader advised the Election Commission to fully know before speaking about political parties.