The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

A special court here yesterday adjourned the charge hearing in the GATCO graft case against former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko and others till June 30.

Judge Shahed Nuruddin set the new date as the defence counsels prayed for adjournment saying a petition from the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking permission to file appeal against a High Court order is now pending with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

They said the indictment hearing in the case would not be wise till disposal of the petition.

The prosecution counsels said the Appellate Division did not bar charge framing in the case. After hearing both the sides, the court fixed the new date.

Later, a petition of Koko was filed seeking relief from his personal appearance before the court on health ground.

The hearing on the petition might be held tomorrow, Koko's counsel Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokan told reporters.

Earlier, Begum Zia and her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, former ministers Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Motiur Rahman Nizami, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, MK Anwar, M Shamsul Islam and 10 others were produced before the court. But Koko was taken back to hospital after a few minutes as he fell sick in the dock.

The remaining seven accused including former Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman were mentioned absconding in the case.

The chargesheet said the accused persons in connivance with each other gave the contract of container handling in Chittagong Port and Kamalapur ICD in Dhaka to the "inexperienced and incompetent" Global Argo-trade Company Limited (GATCO) violating the biding rules.

It also said that this action caused a loss of Taka 14.56 crore to the state.

Begum Zia while talking to her counsels after the court proceedings reiterated her demand for holding Jatiya Sangsad poll before any local government elections.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lodged the case on September 2 last year with Tejgoan thana against Begum Khaleda Zia, her son Arafat Rahman Koko and 11 others.

After investigation, ACC submitted chargesheet against 24 persons including 13 persons accused in the FIR.