HC verdict on Khaleda's challenge on Aug 5

The High Court will deliver verdict on August 5 on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's two petitions challenging the legality of the trial proceedings of Gatco corruption case against her.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the Gatco graft case under emergency power rules (EPR) against Khaleda and 12 others including Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami on September 2, 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.

The corruption allegedly cost the state exchequer a loss of over Tk 1,000 crore.

On September 30 the same year, following a writ petition the HC granted bail to Khaleda and issued a rule upon the government and ACC to explain why bringing corruption charges under the EPR should not be declared illegal.

The HC on July 15, 2008, stayed the proceedings of the case against Khaleda and also issued another rule upon the government and ACC to explain why the proceedings of the case should not be quashed.

After hearing the rules, the HC on Jun 17 kept the petitions waiting for verdict.

Khaleda was arrested in the case on September 2, 2007 and was released on bail the next year in four cases filed against her after the arrest.