HC issues 6-month deadline to wrap up probe into Rooppur pillow scam

The High Court has ordered officials to complete within six months the investigation in four graft cases over the irregularities in the purchase of furniture and other home appliances at Pabna's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project, reports bdnews24.com.

The court also issued a 'standover' (adjournment) on a rule over the bail of Md Shafiqul Islam, former assistant engineer of housing and public works ministry's Pabna Zone, who has been sent to jail pending trial in three graft cases.

The virtual bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the orders at a hearing on the rule on Monday.

Lawyer Sayed Ahmed Raza argued for the petitioner while Advocate Md Khurshid Alam Khan appeared on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik and Assistant Attorney General Mahjabin Rabbani Deepa represented the state.

"On Aug 17, the High Court issued a rule on the question of bail to Shafiqul Islam in three cases. The hearings on that rule have been held over the last few days," Khurshid told the news agency.

"The matter has now been put on hold and the ACC has been directed to complete its investigation during that time."

Asked whether the latest order applies to all four cases, Khurshid said, "Engineer Shafiqul Islam has applied for bail in three cases.