Graft case against Tarique, Zubaida, witness testifies after uproar

Tarique, Zubaida

A chartered accountant today testified after long uproar in the crowded court room in the graft case filed against BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman.

Witness AK Abdul Motin submitted his depositions as the 7th prosecution witness of the in the court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzaman of Dhaka.

Recording his depositions, the court adjourned the hearing till May 31 (Wednesday).

Recording the depositions of the witness begun at 2 pm, however, the pro-BNP lawyers took position in the courtroom and there was uproar while some of the lawyers chanted slogans in the court room.

In the midst the judge left the courtroom. At this time, the lawyers of both group went out side the court room and started demonstration. Later, additional police force have been deployed in the court room.

Later, the situation became somewhat calm and the court started recording the depositions of the witness after 6 pm.

Earlier, the court on May 21 recorded the depositions of the first prosecution witness, ACC Deputy Director Jahirul Huda is the complainant of the case.

The court on April 13, 2013, framed charges against the two fugitive accused as it scrapped a petition to allow them to appoint lawyers to defend them in the court in their absence.

ACC on September 26, 2007, filed the case against Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida Rahman and mother-in-law Iqbal-Mand Banu for amassing illegal wealth of Taka 4.81 crore and concealing information about the assets.

The anti-graft body filed the charge sheet in 2008. Dr Zubaida in 2008 filed a petition with the High Court, pleading to quash the proceedings of the case. The High Court in the same year stayed the proceedings of the case, which was later upheld by the Appellate Division.

The High Court after holding final hearing on the matter, cancelled the plea of Zubaid on April 12, 2017. It had also asked her to appear before the trial court concerned within eight weeks. Zubaida Rahman later filed a leave to appeal petition against the High Court order.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on April 13, 2022, scrapped Zubaida's leave to appeal petition and upheld the High Court order.

On November 1, 2022, the lower court concerned issued arrest warrants against the couple after accepting the charges pressed against them. On February 6, 2023, the court also issued a gazette asking the couple to appear in the court. - Special Correspondent