A Dhaka Court on Thursday framed charge against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accusing them of amassing assets through illegal means and concealing information in their wealth statements.
Judge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court, Md Adaduzzaman, passed the charge framing order against the accused couple who are fugitive in the eye of law, and fixed May 16 for commencement of testimony.
A petition was submitted praying for appointing a lawyer for Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman, although they are fugitives. However, the judge rejected the application and held hearing for indictment.
Advocate Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan, one of the counsels of Tarique Rahman and Zubaida Rahman, said, "The accused should have the chance to appoint a lawyer to represent them in the case in the interest of justice. However, the Attorney General had commented on the issue while it was pending before the court. As a result, the judge may appear to be influenced by his comment."
The case against the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and his wife was filed during the rule of the army-backed caretaker government. Tarique was arrested and imprisoned for one and a half years before he was released on bail.
While on bail, Tarique traveled to the United Kingdom with his family and never returned home. He became a senior vice chairman of the BNP while living abroad and still serves as acting chairman of the party.
Zubaida, a physician by training, joined the government health services before she was sacked in 2014 as she did not rejoin her workplace after taking a leave.
On September 26, 2007, the anti-graft body filed the case with Kafrul Police Station against Tarique, his wife Zubaida and her mother Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu for amassing assets worth Tk 48.2 million through illegal means and concealing the information of Tk 21.6 million in their wealth statements.
bikashju@gmail.com
© 2025 - All Rights with The Financial Express
