The High Court (HC) on Thursday scrapped the trial proceedings of a sedition case filed against BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, ETV Chairman Abdus Salam and two others.
The HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the verdict after holding a hearing petition filed by Abdus Salam, seeking to quash the trial proceedings of the case.
Another violence case filed against Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister and BNP chairperson, has also been rejected as invalid by the same HC bench. It delivered the judgement following a petition filed by the former prime minister in 2017, seeking to scrap the case.
Sedition case was filed with Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station against Tarique Rahman, Abdus Salam and several other unknown persons on charges of broadcasting a 'false, fabricated, and provocative' speech given by the BNP leader on January 8, 2015.
Following the same petition, the HC on December 6, 2017 stayed the trial proceedings of the case and issued a rule asking the state to explain as to why the proceedings should not be ruled out as void.
After final hearing on the petition, the HC bench scrapped the trial proceedings of the sedition case.
In the verdict, the HC said, "No complaint case has been filed even though permission was taken to file a sedition case. In this case, it is not legal to file a case and proceed with that case. That is why the case is liable to be dismissed."
Lawyers Shahdeen Malik and Md Tayeb-Ul-Islam appeared in the court hearing on behalf of Abdus Salam, while Deputy Attorney General Md Jasim Sarker represented the state.
At one point, lawyers SM Shahjahan and Kayser Kamal wanted to know whether other accused of the case including Tarique Rahman will get the benefit of the verdict.
In reply, the court said the other accused in the case will get the benefit of this judgment according to the decision by the higher judiciary.
Meanwhile, case against Khaleda Zia was filed on March 3 in 2015 with the Dhaka's Darussalam Police Station. After submitting charge sheet in the case, Khaleda Zia filed a petition in 2017 seeking scrapping the trial proceedings of the case.
After a primary hearing, the HC on May 16 in 2017 issue a rule and stayed the trial proceedings of the case. The HC bench on Thursday delivered its verdict following the final hearing.
On October 30, the same HC bench scrapped 11 criminal cases against Khaleda Zia.
A section of pro-BNP lawyers including Zainul Abedin, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim, Kayser Kamal, Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, Siddique Ullah Miah, Maksud Ullah and Shanjid Siddique appeared in the court for Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.
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