Graft charge hearing against Tarek, Dr. Zubaida deferred

Tarique, Zubaida

A Dhaka court set April 9 for hearing on charge framing against BNP Acting Chairman Tarek Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman in a case filed for allegedly amassing illegal wealth of Tk 4.81 core and concealing information about their wealth.

Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman of Dhaka passed the order today (Wednesday).

Earlier on January 30, gazette was published against the couple, asking them to appear in the concerned court within February 6, otherwise they will be tried in absentia. The court on January 19 ordered to publish gazette in this regard.

The case was filed with the capital’s Kafrul Police Station on September 26, 2007, during the last military-backed caretaker government, against Tarek, his wife Zubaida and mother-in-law Iqbal Mand Banu for amassing illegal wealth of Tk 4, 81,53,561 and concealing information about it. 

Tarek and Zubaida filed separate writ petitions against the Emergency Act and legality of the case. The High Court Division of the Supreme Court later had issued rule and stayed the proceedings of the case. Zubaida Rahman also filed a petition against the legality of the case.

The High Court after holding hearing on the plea had stayed the proceedings of the case and issued a rule in this regard. After hearing on the rule, the High Court on April 12, 2017, discharged the rule. The court had also asked Zubaida to surrender in the lower court within eight weeks.

Later, Zubaida Rahman filed a leave to appeal against the order, which was scrapped by the apex court.

The High Court on June 26, 2022, declared Tarek Rahman and Dr Zubaida Rahman fugitives in the case. The court came up with the order, while discharging writ petitions filed by the couple challenging the proceedings of the case, and vacating a stay in this regard.

Tarek and Zubaida have been in London since 2008. On September 26 of 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Kafrul Police Station against Tarek, his wife and her mother Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu for amassing assets worth about Tk 4.82 crore through illegal means and concealing information of Tk 2.16 crore in their wealth statements.

The Investigation Officer of the case submitted charge sheet against three people with Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dh aka, on March 31, 2009. However, the trial proceedings against Iqbal Mand Banu were rescinded.

Earlier, Tarek was sentenced to life in the prison in the August 21 grenade attack case. He was also sentenced to different terms of imprisonment in two other cases, including the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. - Special Correspondent