The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Almost 13 months after his arrest, BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman, who has been accused in a dozen of cases, is eventually going on trial in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission for amassing illegal wealth.

The anti-graft watchdog is most likely to submit charge sheet in the case against Traique, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, today day for acquiring wealth beyond his known sources of income and concealing information.

"The investigation officer (IO) has already been issued with the Commission's letter. The charge sheet is most likely to be submitted tomorrow. If not, it'll be submitted Monday," a competent source told UNB yesterday.

The ACC Thursday approved the submission of charge sheet against Tarique, his wife Dr Jobaida Rahman and mother-in-law Iqbal Mand Banu for acquiring wealth worth about Tk 2.75 crore disproportionate to their known sources of income, including concealment of information of assets worth over Tk 2.16 crore.

Taufiqul Islam, ACC assistant director and the IO, will submit the charge sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15 of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

After submission of the charge sheet, if this case goes to court, it will be the first trial for Tarique in the 12 cases he has been accused. Since his arrest in the early hours of March 8, 2007, 12 cases have been filed against him.

Of the cases, 10 are of extortion, one of fraud and one of concealing information and amassing illegal wealth. Most of the cases have been filed under the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.

The first case against Tarique was filed right after his arrest on March 8. Amin Ahmed Bhuiyan, a construction contractor, filed the Tk-1 crore extortion case with Gulshan police station. And, the investigation into the case is complete.

But the High Court passed a stay order on the case. Later, the Appellate Division upheld the verdict. Tarique did not have to face trial in the case, as there were legal flaws in the process of filing the case.

Apart from the above-mentioned two cases, investigation into the 10 other cases are yet to be completed.

On March 27, 2007 Aftab Uddin, a businessman of Gulshan, filed a Tk-1.32 crore extortion case against Tarique, his business associate Giasuddin Al Mamun and others.

Syed Abu Shahed Sohel, an official of a construction firm, filed a case on May 4, 2007 with Gulshan police station accusing Mamun and his associates of extorting Tk 4.89 lakh. Mamun in his confessional statement mentioned the name of Tarique.

On April 1 last year, a Tk 5-crore extortion case was filed with Dhanmondi police station by businessman Mir Zahid Hossain against Mamun and his six associates. Later, Tarique was made accused in this case.

Khairul Bashar, general manager of Abdul Momen Limited, filed a Tk-10.3 crore extortion case with Shahbagh police station accusing Mamun and six others. Based on Mamun's confessional statement, Tarique was shown arrested in this case.

Tarique was made one of the accused in the Tk-16 lakh extortion case filed by Aftab Uddin, managing director of a contractor firm, with Kafrul police station against Mamun and his associates.

On March 27, 2007, Harun Ferdousi, the proprietor of Panchagarh's Jazz Distillery, filed yet another extortion case against Tarique.

Businessman Mir Zahid Hossain filed another extortion case against Mamun and Tarique, according to Mamun's confessional statement, was made accused in this case.

A fraud case was filed against Mamun for misappropriation of Tk 8.4 crore and in the court Mamun confessed that Tarique had hands in this matter. Tarique was shown arrested in this case too.

A Tk 5-crore extortion case was filed with Shahbagh police station against Mamun by a local project representative of a Chinese company. In the confessional statement, Mamun said he took the money for Tarique.

Another case was filed with Keraniganj police station accusing Tarique and Mamun of seeking toll from a cow trader.

On September 26, 2007, the anti-graft watchdog filed a case with Kafrul police station against Tarique, his wife Dr Jobaida Rahman and mother-in-law Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu for concealing information of assets worth about Tk 4.23 crore and acquiring wealth worth about Tk 4.81 crore beyond their known sources of income.

The case was filed under sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15(D)(5) of the Emergency Power Rules, 2007.