The trial proceedings against BNP nominated mayor candidate for Dhaka South City Corporations Ishraque Hossain has formally started as a Dhaka court yesterday indicted him in connection with a case filed by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC). After framing charges against Ishraque, Special Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam fixed February 9 for deposition of witnesses in the case. Ishraque Hossain, son of former Dhaka city mayor and BNP leader late Sadeque Hossain Khoka, was present in the courtroom during the framing of charges against him.

Ishraque’s lawyer submitted a petition before the court seeking acquittal his client’s acquittal of the charges while ACC lawyer urged the court to frame charges against Ishraque in the case. Ishraque told the court that he was innocent and expected justice in the case. The court however rejected his prayer and framed charges against him. It also fixed February 9 for deposition of witnesses in the case.

Earlier, on May 5 last year, the lower court issued warrant of arrest against Ishraque Hossain for not appearing before the court in connection with the case filed by ACC with Ramna Police Station against him in 2010. The case was filed against Ishraque for failing to submit his wealth statement before the commission. Later, on December 9 last year, Ishraque secured bail from the lower court after appearing before it.

Shamsul Alam, assistant director of the ACC, filed the case against the BNP mayoral candidate with capital’s Ramna Police Station on August 29, 2010 for not submitting wealth statement. According to the case documents, on September 1, 2008, the ACC served a notice on Ishraque asking him to submit his wealth statement before the commission.

The ACC in its primary inquiries found that Ishraque had acquired wealth amounting to Tk 5 crore beyond known sources of income. Later on September 4 the same year, the ACC sent the notice to his home. As Ishraque was not present at his home at the time, the notice was hanged on a wall beside the main entrance to his residence.