Hearing on Khaleda's challenge Feb 9

The High Court yesterday fixed February 9 for final hearing on two writ petitions challenging the legality of Gatco graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The case was filed against the BNP chief, her son Arafat Rahman Koko, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, and 21 others with Tejgaon police in 2007 on charges of corruption in awarding Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Co Ltd (Gatco) a contract for container management at inland container depots in Dhaka and Chittagong.

On September 30, 2007 the HC granted Khaleda bail and issued a rule upon the government and ACC asking to explain the charges under the Emergency Power Rules should not be declared illegal.

On July 15, 2008 it stayed the proceedings and issued another rule on the same asking to explain why the proceedings should not be quashed.