Charges framed against Tarique, Zubaida in graft case

A Dhaka court has framed the charges against BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Asaduzzman passed the order on Thursday. 

Following the charge framing, trial of the case has started officially.

The court in its order said Tarique and Zubaida will not be able to hire lawyers for them at their own cost. 

Earlier on November 1 last year, the court issued an arrest warrant against them in the case.  

On September 26 in 2007, the ACC filed the case against Tarique, Zubaida and Tarique’s mother-in-law Iqbal Mand Banu for amassing illegal wealth of Taka 4.81 crore and concealing information about the assets.

Tarique and Zubaida filed separate writ petitions against the emergency act and legality of the case. The High Court later had issued rule and stayed the proceedings of the case. Zubaida Rahman also filed a criminal petition against the legality of the case. 

The High Court after holding hearing on the plea had stayed the proceedings of the case and issued a rule in this regard. After holding hearing on the rule, the High Court on April 12, 2017, discharged the rule. The court had also asked Zubaida to surrender before the lower court within eight weeks.

Zubaida Rahman filed a leave to appeal petition against the order, which was scrapped by the apex court.

The High Court on June 26, 2022, declared Tarique and Zubaida fugitives in the case. The court came up with the order, while discharging writ petitions filed by the couple challenging the proceedings of the case, and vacating a stay in this regard.