Online Desk: A court in Dhaka on Monday (March 14) set March 17 for holding a hearing in a graft case against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and 14 others. Judge Ali Hossen of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 re-fixed the date following a time plea by defendant lawyers.

On September 2, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against 13 people, including Khaleda and her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko with Tejgaon Police Station on charges of misappropriating huge money while dealing with Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Company Ltd (GATCO).

Next day, Khaleda Zia and Koko were arrested. The case was included in the Emergency Powers Act on September 18 at the same year. On May 13, 2008, the anti-graft body pressed charge sheets against the BNP chief and 23 others, inflicting 11 in the case.

Later, the names of eleven accused, including Khaleda’s younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, were dropped out of the charge sheet following their deaths on different dates.