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Download PDF A Dhaka court is set to deliver the verdict today on the corruption case filed against Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad in connection with allotting plots illegally to 49 persons when he was president.
The First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, which will deliver the verdict, is also scheduled to hold hearing of a gold smuggling case filed against the deposed president.
The trial of the plot-allotment case began in 1998. The court completed its hearing on August 13 and fixed today for delivering the verdict.
The court framed charges against Ershad and acquitted the then Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) chairman Rahamat Ullah after finding no conclusive evidence against him on March 9, 1992.
Ershad was acquitted in three graft cases last week following his announcement to join the ruling BNP-led alliance ahead of the next parliamentary election. The JP chief, however, has not yet declared any date for his joining.
Ershad leaves Dhaka tomorrow for Saudi Arabia on a weeklong visit.
PLOT-ALLOTMENT CASE
Mohammad Sajjad Hossain, an official of the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption, filed the case against Ershad with the Motijheel Police Station on April 22, 1991.
The investigation officer (IO) of the case pressed charges against Ershad and Rahamat Ullah on December 9 the same year.
According to the prosecution, the then president Ershad directed authorities concerned to allot plots in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Uttara residential areas to 49 persons during 1988-1990, violating the government and Rajuk provisions.
The court has so far recorded statements of only four prosecution witnesses although the trial began on April 23, 1998.
The court could not complete arguments of the case as the prosecution and the defence had sought time on different excuses since August 2002.
GOLD SMUGGLING CASE
On August 13, the same court adjourned the hearing of the gold smuggling case against Ershad until August 27 following a time petition from the prosecution.
According to the prosecution, a team of customs officials held four persons including two foreign nationals from Zia International Airport (ZIA) on July 17, 1990 when they were attempting to smuggle 3,000 tola gold worth around Tk 2.5 crore into Bangladesh.
A smuggling case was filed against the four–Bernhard Rudiger of Germany, David Anthony Chalmar Chaker of England, the then manager of ZIA Major (retd) Ashraf Uddin Sekender and security guard of ZIA Abu Taher–with the Cantonment PS the same day.
During the investigation, the IO found evidence for Ershad’s involvement in the smuggling and his name was included in the charge sheet.
Rudiger, Chalmar Chaker, Ashraf and Taher were convicted and sent to prison on different terms on May 14, 1992.
The trial against Ershad did not start due to a stay order from the higher court.
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