HC asks Tarique to surrender within 30 days
STAFF REPORTER
The High Court (HC) yesterday (Tuesday) asked BNP leader Tarique Rahman, who is now in London, to surrender before the lower court concerned within 30 days in connection with three extortion cases.
After vacating its earlier stay order in the three extortion cases and two corruption cases against Tarique, an HC bench, comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah, asked the BNP leader to surrender before the trial court concerned in connection with the three extortion cases.
The HC bench came up with the order after final hearing on separate petitions filed by Tarique Rahman, challenging the trial proceedings of the cases.
The three extortion cases were filed against Tarique with Shahbagh, Dhanmondi and Gulshan police stationsafter months of crackdown on high-profile corruption suspects by the military-backed caretaker government in 2007-2008.
The other two cases were filed before a Dhaka court against Tarique Rahman on charge of dodging taxes in 2007 and 2008.
The HC, in 2007 and 2008, following separate writ petition filed by Tarique Rahman, had stayed the trial proceedings of the cases. The HC had also issued separate rules asking the government to explain why the proceedings of the cases should not be quashed.
But after the final hearing on the rules, the HC bench yesterday discharged the petitions and came up with the directives.
There is no legal bar to continue the trial proceedings against Tarique Rahman in the cases following the HC orders, lawyers concerned said.
Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and barrister Raghib Rauf Chowdhury appeared for Tarique Rahman, while deputy attorney general Taposh Kumar Biswash represented the state during the hearing.
The HC bench did not allow barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon to submit his arguments on behalf of Tarique, saying that Tarique is considered a fugitive.
The BNP leader has been living in London for the past eight years after receiving parole for medical treatment.
