The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

With Supreme Court bail in a Tk 21 crore bribery case involving the murder of a Bashundhara Group Director, Tarique Rahman, the elder son of detained former prime minister, yesterday secured bail in all cases filed against him after 1/11 changeover.

A 3-member Appellative Division bench presided over by Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin granted the bail to Tarique for eight weeks on health grounds as he suffers from spondelo-arthritis.

Tarique Rahman, also senior joint secretary general of BNP, obtained the bail from all cases amid the demand for his release was getting momentum from various corners including the four-party alliance, particularly to ensure his treatment abroad.

Barrister Rafiqul Haque, lawyer of Tarique told reporters with the latest bail granting by the Supreme Court there is no legal obstacle to release Tarique Rahman since he has already obtained bail in all cases.

Another lawyer Barrister Nasiruddin Ashim said yesterday's bail removed all obstacles in freeing Tarique Rahman from jail.

He hoped that Tarique Rahman is likely to be freed from prison on Sunday next following due procedures including reaching court order to jail authority and signing bail bond.

Meanwhile, Adviser for Communication Maj Gen (Retd) Ghulam Quader yesterday told reporters that the government would not interfere on the court order.

Replying to a question he said that it is easy to release on parole and getting release on bail is a lingering process.

Of the total 13 cases, criminal cases, including corruption and extortion, filed against him, Tarique Rahman now received bail in 12 cases. Earlier, another case was disposed off finally by the court.

Tarique Rahman, who is now undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) prison cell, was arrested on March 7 last year in connection with a number of corruption cases.

Adviser for Home Affairs Maj Gen (Retd) MA Matin yesterday said that the process for the release of Tarique Rahman has made progress.

He, however, said that he did not know about the state of the actual state of Tarique's release.