The New Nation - Internet Edition

Desk Report

The High Court yesterday granted bail to former minister Dr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain and Awami Juba League general secretary Mirza Azam in two separate corruption cases for three and two months respectively.

Meanwhile the Anti-Corruption Commission is going to charge-sheet Awami League leaders Akteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu and AKM Rahmatullah , and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's brother Shamim Iskander in separate graft cases.

Upon a petition, a Division Bench comprising Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader and Justice M Emdadul Haque Azad granted bail for three months to former minister Dr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain in GATCO scam case.

The Bench also stayed for three months the case proceedings and issued a rule upon the ACC to explain in four weeks why the case should not be quashed.

The same HC bench granted bail for two months to Awami Juba League general secretary Mirza Azam in a corruption case. Granting the interim bail, the Bench stayed for four weeks the proceedings of the corruption case.

The Bench also issued a rule asking the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain within four weeks why the case should not be quashed.

Mirza Azam, also a former Awami League lawmaker, was sent to jail after he surrendered to the Metropolitan Sessions Court here on July 16 following a High Court (HC) order.

On July 14, the HC had asked him to seek bail on surrender to the trial court as it had already issued a warrant of arrest order against the accused petitioner.

ACC deputy director Mobara Khanam had filed the case with Ramna police station on January 10, accusing Azam of amassing wealth illegally worth Tk 53.62 lakh and concealing information about his property.

ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told reporters a regular briefing yesterday afternoon that the anti-graft watchdog has approved the submission of four charge sheets.

The ACC will submit charge sheet against Chittagong district (South) AL president and ex-MP Akteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu for acquiring wealth worth over Tk 8 crore beyond known sources of income.

Former AL lawmaker Rahmatullah and his wife Halima Rahmatullah will be charge-sheeted in the case filed against them for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 5.17 crore and concealment of assets worth Tk 4.65 crore.

Former Prime Khaleda Zia's brother Shamim Iskander, a former Bangladesh Biman flight engineer, and his wife Kaniz Fatema will be charge-sheeted for earning illegal assets and hiding information of wealth worth about Tk 1.34 crore.

The ACC will press charge against former NBR member Jahurul Haque and his wife Afia Haque in the case filed against them for amassing ill-gotten wealth worth Tk 1.22 crore and concealment of information of assets worth Tk 93.91 lakh.