The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The arraignment hearing in the Tk 21-crore bribery case against Tarique Rahman, detained ex-PM Khaleda Zia's elder son, former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar and six others was Thursday once again deferred to take place on June 25.

As the prosecution failed to produce the principal accused, Tarique Rahman, who is suffering from multiple health complications, before the special court trying the case, Judge Shahed Noor Uddin passed the deferment order.

The prosecution, however, brought detained co-accused Lutfozzaman Babar, the former state minister for home affairs, and Abu Sufiyan in the court.

As the court resumed at 10:52am, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, the counsel for Tarique, quoting a medical report, prayed for adjournment as his client was "unfit to move from the prison cell".

After hearing the petition, the court fixed June 25 as the next date for charge hearing.

Other accused in the case are Bashundhara Group chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan alias Shah Alam, his two sons-Shafiat Sobhan Sanvir and Sadaat Sobhan-Abu Sufian, director of East West Property Development Pvt. Ltd., a sister concern of Bashundhara, and Tarique's private secretary Mia Nur Uddin Apu.

On October 10 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against six persons, except Tarique and Saleemul. In an investigation, later, the investigation officer found their involvement.

The prosecution story says that, after investigation, it was found that Tarique had taken Tk 1 crore out of a Tk 21- crore bribe.

In the case, the complainant accused them of taking and giving the bribe to save the Bashundhara Group chairman's son Sanvir from the charge of murdering Humayun Kabir Sabbir, a director of Bashundhara Group, on July 5, 2006.