A court here on Wednesday fixed December 22 to hold a hearing on charge framing in Gatco graft case against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and others.

Acting judge Nazrul Islam of the Dhaka Special Judge Court 3 set the date, allowing a time plea of the defence.

Wednesday was set for holding hearing on charge framing, but prime accused Begum Khaleda Zia failed to appear before the court on health issues ground, making her counsels plead for time.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against 13 people including Khaleda Zia and her younger son Arafat Rahman on September 2, 2007, with Tejgaon police station for their role in corruption regarding penning a contract with Global Agro Trade (Pvt) Co Ltd (Gatco) for container management at inland container depots in Dhaka and Chattogram.

Formal charge was submitted against 24 on May 13, 2008. But, of the 24 accused, six including Arafat, Saifur Rahman and Matiur Rahman Nizami have died so far.