The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The High Court yesterday granted bail to detained BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman in two separate extortion cases. Granting Tarique Rahman interim bail following separate petitions, a division bench comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Shaidul Islam also stayed the proceedings of the two cases.

These two cases were filed against Tarique Rahman with Gulshan police station on March 27 and May 4 last year. The cases were filed by the owner of a real-estate company and an aggrieved person.

Despite the HC orders for setting him free on bail, Tarique won't be able to come out of jail as he is entangled in a series of corruption cases, said Mahbubuddin Khokon, a counsel for Tarique.

Earlier, the HC in November last year had issued rule upon the government to explain why placing the extortion cases against Tarique for trying under the Emergency Power Rules 'should not be declared illegal'.