Khaleda ill, stays absent in Gatco graft hearing

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been shown physically ill for nonappearance during today’s hearing of Gatco graft case against her.

The custody warrant sent to a Dhaka court, endorsed by assistant surgeon of Dhaka Central Jail, reads, Khaleda’s condition is not congenial for producing her.

Ataur Rahman, judge (in-charge) of Special Judge Court-3, accepted the custody warrant and set June 24 for indictment hearing in the case against Khaleda and 18 others.

Meanwhile, a lawyer for Khaleda has submitted two separate petitions seeking bail in two cases filed for her “defamatory” remarks about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and celebrating her “fake” birthday.

Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder submitted the petitions with the metropolitan magistrate courts of Md Ahsan Habib and Md Khurshid Alam.

After the hearing, Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ahsan Habib set April 15 for hearing the bail petition in the case filed for making defamatory remarks on Bangabandhu while Metropolitan Magistrate Khurshid Alam fixed April 25 for hearing the bail petition of the other case.