Dhaka, Oct 9: A city court has allowed the Anti-corruption Commission to seize documents and records pertaining to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's bank accounts with two city-based banks in connection with the Gatco container handling graft case.

Justice Mohammad Azizul Haque of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the order after ACC Deputy Director Johirul Huda submitted a petition for allowing him to seize all bank-account records and documents of Ms Zia in Sonali Bank, local branch Motijheel, Dhaka, and Prime Bank, Banani branch.

The ACC on September 2 filed the case against Khaleda, her son Arafat Rahman Koko and 11 others with Tejgaon Police Station in connection with illegally awarding Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Co Ltd (Gatco) the contract for container management at the Dhaka Inland Container Depot (DICD) and the Chittagong Port ICD yards.

The accused were charged with violating tender conditions and appointing Gatco, ignoring its lack of experience and skill to manage the cargo handling at the ports.

Besides, another city court gave the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case the permission to interrogate the former premier over the graft charges brought against her, at the gate of the sub-jail set up for her on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises.

According to the sources, the ACC requires the documents and records to see if there were any payments made to her in connection with awarding Gatco the contract.


UNI