The New Nation - Internet Edition

Bdnews 24.com, Dhaka

Former BNP Minister MK Anwar was freed from Dhaka Central Jail on Monday after he won bail from the High Court in the GATCO scam case, a Prisons official said.

Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Major Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told bdnews24.com that the BNP leader was freed "a few minutes ago."

MK Anwar won bail from the HC on Sunday.

The High Court yesterday granted bail to businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun in a case involving charges of not submitting a wealth information.

Justice Abdul Awal of the High Court Division passed the order on a bail appeal by Mamun, widely known as a friend of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman.

The Anti-corruption Commission on Feb 18 last year asked 50 people, including Mamun, to submit their wealth statements to the graft watchdog within 72 hours from notification.

ACC Deputy Director Akhter Hamid Bhuiyan on April 5 last year filed a corruption case against Mamun for failure to submit his wealth statement by the deadline.

In the case, the Dhaka Special Judge's Court on June 7 last year sentenced Mamun to three years in jail.

Mamun appealed to the High Court against the Trial Court verdict.

The bail to Mamun in the case will remain effective until disposal of his appeal.

Barrister Fakhrul Islam appeared in the hearing on behalf of Mamun.

"Though Mamun won bail in this case as there are other cases against him he will not be released from jail right now," Islam said.

The High Court on Monday adjourned hearings on bail pleas of 17 senior politicians to July 27.

A HC bench of Justices Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Md Imdadul Haque Azad passed the order after new Attorney General Salahuddin Ahmed requested further time.

Of the 17, eight are leaders of Awami League, including party president Sheikh Hasina, general secretary Abdul Jalil, and AL leaders Fazlul Karim Selim, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Salman F Rahman, AKM Rahmat Ullah, AHM Mostafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal), Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.