Bangladesh News

The High Court (HC) yesterday stayed for three months the proceedings of a tax evasion case filed by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) against detained BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman.

Responding to a writ petition filed by Tarique, an HC bench comprised of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Md Abu Tariq also issued a rule upon the government to explain within six weeks why the initiation and continuation of this case should not be declared illegal.

Meanwhile, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice MA Matin sent a petition filed by Tarique Rahman — for staying the proceedings against him in the Tk 21-crore bribery case involving the murder of Bashundhara Group director Humayun Kabir Sabbir — to the regular bench of the Appellate Division for hearing.

The chamber judge also fixed August 17 for the hearing at the apex court.

NBR Deputy Tax Commissioner Samia Akhter filed the case against Tarique, elder son of detained former premier Khaleda Zia, on August 4 for dodging Tk 26.86 lakh in income taxes from 2002 to 2006.

Tarique Rahman filed a writ petition with the HC on August 10 challenging the legality of the initiation and continuation of the case against him.

Meanwhile a special court yesterday set August 19 for hearing on charge framing against detained Tarique Rahman in the tax evasion case.

Judge AKM Arifur Rahman of Special Court-10 set up in the MP Hostel on the National Parliament premises fixed the date after the prosecution failed to produce Tarique before the court due to his ‘illness’.

BRIBERY CASE

Abul Kashem, deputy assistant director of the ACC, filed the bribery case with Ramna Police Station on October 4 last year accusing six people including former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar. The ACC on May 6 pressed charges against Tarique Rahman, Lutfozzaman Babar and six others in the case.

The case is pending at the special court of Judge Shahed Noor Uddin set on the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban premises.

Earlier, on May 25 this year, Tarique Rahman filed a petition with the HC for quashing the proceedings of the case and granting bail.

The HC on August 7 rejected the quashment petition, stayed the trial proceedings against him till yesterday and permitted Tarique to file an appeal with the Supreme Court (SC) against the HC order and for bail.

Tarique filed the petition with the SC yesterday to stay the proceedings against him.

ACC’s lawyer advocate Anisul Huq told reporters that there is no bar in proceeding with the trial of this case against Tarique and others following the Appellate Division order.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq assisted by barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon and barrister Nasiruddin Ahmed Asim appeared for Tarique.