The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A special court yesterday framed charges against detained BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and six others in the Tk 21 crore bribery case.

Judge Shahed Noor Uddin of Special Court-3 in parliament compound also fixed July 24 for commencing the trial proceedings of the case.

The accused are indicted for trying to cover up the grisly murder of Bashundhara Group Director Humayun Kabir Sabbir in exchange for bribe.

Tarique was spared from appearing at court hearings in person on health grounds on July 6. Babar and Abu Sufian, director of East West Property Development Ltd, a Bashundhara concern, were produced before the court.

Other accused--Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan alias Shah Alam, his two sons Shafayet Sobhan Sanvir and Sadaat Sobhan, Abu Sufian, and Tarique's personal secretary Mia Noor Uddin Apu--are absconding.

On October 4 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission's Deputy Assistant Director Abul Kashem filed the case with Ramna Police Station, accusing six persons including Babar.

The names of Tarique and former BNP lawmaker Qazi Saleemul Huq Kamal were included in the charge sheet after investigations found their involvement in the crime.