The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court yesterday granted one-month interim bail to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, former BNP MP Nasir Uddin Pintu, and Partex Group chairman and ex-BNP MP MA Hashem.

All three are in jail custody in separate corruption cases.

Granting bail upon separate petitions, a division bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice Emdadul Haque Azad stayed for one month the proceedings of the cases faced by them.

The court also issued separate rules asking the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why the cases against them should not be quashed.

The rules are returnable in four weeks.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq appeared for them while Advocate Moazzem Hossain for the ACC.

The anti-graft watchdog filed separate cases against SQ Chowdhury, Pintu and Hashem for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information.

The same bench stayed for two months the proceeding of a graft case filed against Awami League presidium member Tofael Ahmed's daughter Dr Taslima Ahmed Zaman. She has been made a co-accused in the case against her father for acquiring illegal wealth and hiding information.

The bench also issued a rule asking the ACC to explain why the graft case against former BNP lawmaker MAH Selim alias Silver Selim should not be quashed. The rule is returnable in four weeks.