A Dhaka court has adjourned hearing on charge framing of Gatco graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 14 others till January 29, 2023.
With this, defence lawyers took 43 dates for hearing on different excuses.
Judge (in charge) Shaikh Nazmul Alam of the Special Judge's Court-3 of Dhaka passed the order on Sunday after BNP leader Khondaker Mosharraf Hossain's lawyer Taherul Islam Tauhid submitted an application, seeking an adjournment of the hearing.
Khaleda is now sick and has been receiving treatment at her Gulshan residence after she has been out of jail, following an executive order of the government, said her lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder.
Fourteen other accused, including Khondaker Mosharraf, now on bail, were present were present at the court during the hearing.
On September 2, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) 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).
Names of nine accused, including Khaleda's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, were dropped from the case as they died earlier.
Thirty-three more cases, including Niko and Barapukuria coalmine graft cases, against Khaleda are now pending with different courts across the country.
MS
