Charge hearing in graft case against Tarique, Zubaida deferred

A Dhaka court set April 9 for holding hearing on charge framing against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman in a case filed for allegedly amassing illegal wealth of Tk 4.81 core and concealing information about this.

Dhaka metropolitan sessions judge Md Asaduzzaman passed the order on Wednesday (March 29) noon.

Earlier on January 30, gazette was published against the couple, asking them to appear before the concerned court within February 6, or else they will be tried in absentia. The court on January 19 ordered to publish the gazette in this regard.

The case was filed with the capital’s Kafrul police station on September 26, 2007, against Tarique, his wife Zubaida and mother-in-law Iqbal Mand Banu for amassing illegal wealth of Tk 4, 81,53,561 and concealing information about this.

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 Rahman and Dr Zubaida Rahman 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.