The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

A Special Court here on Thursday adjourned the trial proceedings till August 5 against BNP senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman, former state minister for home Lutfuzzaman Babar and six others in a bribery case.

Judge Shahed Nooruddin set the new date as the Defence counsels prayed for time, saying a petition seeking quashment of the charge is now pending before the High Court.

They said that for the ends of justice, further proceedings should be stayed till disposal of the petition.

The Court, considering their prayer, adjourned the proceedings and ordered the Defence counsels to submit the certified copy of the quashment petition on the next date.

Earlier, Babar and Abu Sufian, a director of Bashundhara Group, detained in jail were produced before the court.

Advocate Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan appeared on behalf of Tarique Rahman as the Court exempted him from appearing in person in the trial due to his illness.

They were accused of taking bribes amounting to Taka 21 crore from Bashundhara Group for clearing its chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan alias Shah Alam, his two sons and Abu Sufian, a director of IT department of the group, of the charges of killing Sabbir.

The other accused in the case are Ahmed Akbar Sobhan alias Shah Alam, Safayet Sobhan Tanvir and Sadat Sobhan, former BNP lawmaker Quazi Salimul Haque Kamal and Tarique Rahman's personal assistant Miah Noor Uddin Apu.

They were absconding since the case was lodged on October 6 last year.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted the charge sheet on May 6 against eight persons, including Tarique and Babar.